Individuals with mobility limitations often experience changes in participating in major life activities as a result of their physical limitations and the barriers encountered in their environment. A three-year project funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Division of Disability and Health developed a dynamic measurement system that assesses participation and environmental barriers and facilitators. This dynamic measurement system consists of two surveys: the Participation Survey (PARTS) and the Facilitators and Barriers Survey (FABS). In addition, a core set of items (CDC-Core) is used to assess individual impairments and socioeconomic factors. Survey items used in the PARTS and FABS were developed based on the interviews and focus groups of people who are mobility limited, their significant others and rehabilitation professionals. This measurement system is reliable, valid, responsive to change, and feasible to administer for the purpose of providing multiple indices of outcomes across a broad scope of personal and social activities for individuals with mobility limitations. A convenience sample of over 600 individuals with mobility limitations secondary to polio, spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, and cerebral palsy completed final forms of the surveys. Presenters will specifically report results related to the psychometrics and application of the measurement system. Psychometrics related to internal consistency, test-retest reliability and construct validity for both the PARTS and FABS will be discussed.
Learning Objectives: 1. to understand "participation" and "environmental factors" as these apply to persons with mobility impairments 2. to recognize the benefits of a reliable and valid measurement system 3. to understand the psychometrics related to the Participation Survey and the Facilitators and Barriers Survey
Keywords: Environment, Disability Studies
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
Disclosure not received
Relationship: Not Received.