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Susan Kinne, PhD, Center for DIsability Policy and Research, University of Washington, 146 N Canal Street #313, Seattle, WA 98103, (206) 685-4769, susaki@u.washington.edu
Background: Census data provide local detail on numbers of people with disabilities, but the Census disability definition is quite different from that used in surveys like the NHIS and BRFSS, the best sources of information on their health behaviors and participation. To integrate findings of different surveys it is useful to understand whom they identify as having a disability.
Methods: The Disability Supplement to the 2003 Washington State BRFS asked 2,100 adults about their disability status using both the Census and BRFS disability screening items, as well as questions about self-identification as having a disability, perceived discrimination on disability, satisfaction with community participation and presence and impact of secondary conditions. Persons meeting the Census and BRFS criteria for disability were compared on these and demographic characteristics.
Results: The 2 definitions gave similar but not identical disability samples. 78% of persons meeting Census disability criteria also met BRFS criteria. Despite this overlap, the BRFS-defined disability sample included fewer non-whites and more people with only one Census limitation than did the Census-defined sample. Persons who met only one definition were significantly different in some disability-related ways from those meeting both, but their numbers were small. The paper will present comparisons of the samples identified by the two definitions, emphasizing commonalities.
Conclusions: The Census and BRFS disability definitions, applied to one group of adults, identify many of the same people but differ in a number of ways. For some but not all analyses it is appropriate to combine BRFS health data with Census disability numbers.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Disability, Surveillance
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.