Can I use a screening question before the WG questions?
Evidence shows that single screener questions do not adequately identify the population of interest. Most screeners are of the form “Do you have a disability?” with yes/no answer categories. As noted above, the use of the term disability has very negative effects. Questions of this type identify only a portion of those experiencing functional problems. They equate disability with a medical problem (disability lies within the person) and by forcing a respondent to make a choice between affirming disability which in some cultures is associated with stigma and discrimination. Some screeners do not use the term disability but ask about medical conditions. While respondents can describe their difficulty doing activities, they often cannot report on their conditions. For example, respondents may not be aware of their conditions due to lack of medical care. The search for a one or two question screener that will identify the population of interest and results in no false negatives has been universally unsuccessful. The WG-SS represent the fewest number of questions that can be used to identify the population with disabilities.