Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #114722

Andrew J. Houtenville, PhD, S. Antonio Ruiz-Quintanilla, PhD, Robert Weathers, PhD, and William A. Erickson, MS. Employment and Disability Institute, Cornell University, Room 106, Extension Building, Ithaca, NY 14853, (607) 255-5702, ajh29@cornell.edu

The National Health Interview Survey on Disability (NHIS-D) was conducted 10 years ago. There is renewed and growing interest in a National Disability Survey (NDS). One goal of an NDS is to facilitate evidenced-based policy formation in public health and other policy areas. The purpose of this paper and presentation is to frame the issues around an NDS in a way that moves these discussions forward in a systematic and inclusive manner.

We outline and discuss the creation of an NDS from multiple vantage points: (1) the necessary conditions for the creation of an NDS (e.g., demonstration of need, funding), (2) fundamental content and design elements of an NDS (e.g., sampling frame, specificity of disability types), (3) key phases of development, implementation, and utilization (e.g., initial instrument design), and (4) essential elements of each step along the way (e.g., stakeholder input, accessibility and inclusion, scientific rigor, process evaluation). We go further for one of the fundamental conditions for the creation of an NDS—a demonstration of need, and in particular the unmet needs of public health researchers and officials.

Our paper and presentation utilize input and feedback from the designers of the NHIS-D, as well as, key informants from the public health, disability and broader policy communities. In addition, we draw upon our utilization of existing data, a literature review, and our experience responding inquiries from the field.

Learning Objectives:

• We hope that the audience will gain an understanding of the complexity of creating an NDS and the prominent role that the field of public health can play in its realization.

Keywords: Disability Policy, Survey

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Recorded presentation