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American Public Health Association
133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition
December 10-14, 2005
Philadelphia, PA
APHA 2005
 
5153.0: Wednesday, December 14, 2005 - 2:48 PM

Abstract #114722

Moving toward a National Disability Survey

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:

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 ] Recorded presentation

Disability Surveillance

The 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition (December 10-14, 2005) of APHA