5105.0: Wednesday, November 15, 2000 - Board 8

Abstract #10854

Perception of disability status in the U.S.: Data from the 94-95 Disability Supplement

Jae Kennedy, PhD, Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 120 Huff Hall, MC-588, Champaign, IL 61820, 217 333 6876, jjkenned@uiuc.edu

At the end of the Phase 1 of the Disability Supplement to the National Health Interview Survey, there are two items on perceived disability. One asks, "Do you consider [yourself] to have a disability?” while the other asks, "Do other people think [you] have a disability?" This leads to a simple but provocative contingency table, where people can be classified in one of four ways:

1) Disabled (weighted N=12.5 million) -- thinks (s)he has a disability, believes others think (s)he has a disability

2) Hidden disability (weighted N=3.4 million) -- thinks (s)he has a disability, believes others don't think (s)he has a disability

3) Label resistors (weighted N=1.7 million) -- doesn't think (s)he has a disability, believes others think (s)he has a disability

4) Nondisabled (weighted N=214.7 million) -- doesn't think (s)he has a disability, doesn't believe others think (s)he has a disability

This paper describes the characteristics of each group, examining age, gender and racial distributions, education and employment status, severity of disability, and primary health conditions. The author then discusses the political and social ramifications of disability labeling.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to describe variation in self attribution of disability status in the general population

Keywords: Disability, Disability Policy

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
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.

The 128th Annual Meeting of APHA