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Eleventh meeting: Southampton, 14-16 November 2011

14/11/2011 - 16/11/2011

Overview

The 11th meeting of the Washington Group on Disability Statistics (WG) was held 14-16 November 2011 in Southampton, Bermuda. The primary focus of the meeting was the presentation of preliminary results from country reports using the WG short set questions and additional work on the extended set on functioning.

The workgroup on child disability provided an update on the development of specific question modules for children. The workgroup dealing with environmental factors provided an update on the development of extended set questions for the measurement of environmental factors including both barriers and facilitators. Plans for future development and testing of these questions were discussed.

In addition to reports on other Washington Group related activities, updates were provided on behalf of partner organizations with respect to their recent activities related to disability statistics, and the Steering Committee chair led a discussion on strategic issues including planning next steps.

Objectives:

  1. Present results of country reports using WG short set questions in surveys/censuses
  2. Present additional work on extended sets:
    • results from further analyses of cognitive and field testing data
    • update on expansion of cognitive and field testing of the extended set of questions to other regions and presentation of results (if any)
    • update on any revisions to extended set questions
  3. Present status reports from the workgroups on measurement of child disability and environmental factors
  4. Discuss strategic issues

Detailed Meeting Program

Papers and Presentations

Session 1: Opening Session

Welcoming remarks; practical information; a review of developments since the last meeting; and a review of the objectives and agenda for the 11th meeting were provided.

Session 2: WG Short Set

Country experiences and results using the WG Short measure questions were presented in the session. The session also included a discussion of protocol to ensure comparable translation of the WG Short measure questions.

Session 3: WG Extended Set on Functioning

A brief review of the development of the Extended Set on Functioning was presented; followed by preliminary results from the 2010 U.S. National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). Also, an update was provided on the expansion of cognitive testing and field testing of the Extended Set on Functioning in the Middle East region.

Documents

  1. The Matrix (Workplan for the development of the Extended Question Sets) [pdf]
  2. The Washington Group Extended Set on Functioning (WG ES-F) [pdf]

Session 4: Methodological Issues Concerning Surveys – Environmental Factors

Assorted areas of focus for a cross-cultural approach to environmental measures were presented during this session; followed by a discussion of the next steps related to developing questions for the measurement of environmental barriers.

Documents

Session 5: Methodological Issues Concerning Surveys – Child Disability

Background and the guiding principles to the development of measure of disability for children were presented during this session. The battery of questions proposed for children were introduced; followed by a discussion of the next steps for the Workgroup on Child Disability.

Documents

Session 6: Country Reports

A summary of the annual reports on national activities related to disability statistics was provided. This session also included additional country experiences and results using the WG Short measure questions.

Session 7: Next Steps and Objectives for the 12th Meeting

Updates on WG governance issues and a summary of the accomplishments of the 11th meeting were provided during this session. This session also included an outline of the next steps and the announcement the dates and location of the 12th meeting. Volunteers were solicited to host the 13th WG meeting.

Executive Summary

Report to the United Nations Statistical Commission

Workgroup Contacts

Two workgroups have been formed to address some unresolved methodological issues. The workgroups will present status reports at the 12th meeting of the WG. Chairs have been identified for each workgroup. The chairs serve as the contact for each group. Information on the workgroup topics and chairs is provided below. WG members who wish to volunteer to participate in one of these groups are to contact the workgroup chairs.

Workgroup on Child Disability

Chairs: Roberta Crialesi and Elena DePalma, Italy
This workgroup is charged with the development of specific question modules designed to measure disability among children.

Workgroup on Environmental Factors

Chair: Barbara Altman, USA
This workgroup is charged with designing extended set questions for the measurement of environmental factors including both barriers and facilitators.

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