Remembering Dr. Barbara M. Altman

The Washington Group on Disability Statistics mourns the passing of our dear friend and colleague, Barbara M. Altman, Ph.D. Barbara was a giant in the design, collection, and analysis of disability data. Over a decades-long career she brought her passion, intelligence, and care to collecting evidence on the lives of people with disabilities. During her tenure as a Special Assistant on Disability Statistics working at the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics, she was a founding member of the Washington Group on Disability Statistics, formed by the United Nations Statistical Commission, and continued to serve as a driving force of the work of the Group for over 20 years. Barbara worked extensively with both the international and U.S. disability communities in all things related to disability. She was a prolific researcher and writer, authoring countless articles and book chapters. She served as editor of numerous books on disability including International Measurement of Disability about the origins, purpose, and work of the Washington Group. In addition to the definition and measurement of disability, her research contributions focused on access and utilization of health-care services by people with disabilities and disability among minority groups. Barbara was a wonderful colleague, mentor, advocate, and a highly respected analyst. Often while knitting in the back of the room, she could interject an insightful observation or a good-natured rebuttal. She will be greatly missed.