8/9/2005 Publication of Meeting DWP's long-term information needs on disability - a feasibility report
On 8 September 2005, Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) published a report (Meeting DWP's long-term information needs on disability - a feasibility report (DWP research report no. 267)) which provides advice on research design options for addressing DWP's likely information and evidence needs in the area of disability.
The main conclusions of the report are:
- Previous and existing surveys, though valuable, have only met needs to a certain point. This is because they did not allow exploration of what happens when individuals become disabled or disability status changes nor provide comprehensive coverage. The previous disability surveys were based on a model of disability that pre-dated the introduction of the Disability Discrimination Act and needs have changed.
- A review of existing sources of data on disability suggests that if all information needs in this area are to be met then two new major surveys would be needed:
- A new and large-scale baseline survey which will provide prevalence estimates and comprehensive cross-sectional data - for example on social participation, employment, health and use of services; and
- A follow up longitudinal survey of the general population with a focus on disability.
- The baseline survey could either be designed as an entirely new survey, or as a follow-up to another large-scale GB survey. The advantage of developing a new survey would be the possibility of including disabled people who have been excluded by traditional survey methods (for example people in non-private households, people with learning disabilities). The baseline survey could be used as a sample source for a longitudinal survey.
- The longitudinal survey would allow comparisons over time of those disabled at the baseline survey, those who become disabled during the study, and those who remain non-disabled. A longitudinal survey would provide data on what happens when people become disabled (or disability status changes) and the situation of disabled people over time. The study would allow exploration of issues about disabled people's lives that have not been, and are unlikely to be possible from other sources.
- The study recommended that if disability surveys are developed further work would be needed on key issues such as how to practically measure disability prevalence in the survey, and how best to undertake research with disabled children and non-private households.
There has been general interest in developing a new dedicated survey in the area of disability, following the OPCS Disability studies carried out in the mid-eighties and the Disability Survey in 1996/7, and in particular growing interest in what a study of disability over people's lives could provide.
The National Centre for Social Research was commissioned in 2004 to look at a range of potential data needs identified by DWP in the area of disability and to provide advice on research design options for addressing these needs.
This report sets out the key options for any future survey work and confirms that DWP's likely future information needs in the area of disability are complex and wide-ranging. DWP will be working with disability organisations and other government departments to carefully consider the recommendations from this study and decide the best way forward.
The report is available on the DWP website:
