Comparative performance of disability measures.

Researchers and federal agencies are currently discussing the best way to measure disability in US federal surveys. One idea being discussed is expanding/supplementing the question sets commonly used to capture disability status in order to better capture a broader segment of the disabled population. We used data from the 2010-2018 National Health Interview Survey to examine the performance of questions commonly used to measure disability in the US-the ACS-6 and Washington Group Short Set questions-in capturing intellectual and developmental disabilities, mental health disabilities, and physical health disabilities.

Performance of the Washington Group questions in measuring blindness and deafness.

The Washington Group Short Set (WGSS) questions are intended to measure the severity of disability and disability status in US federal surveys. We used data from the 2010-2018 National Health Interview Survey to examine the performance of the WGSS visual disability and hearing disability questions in capturing blindness and deafness. We found that the WGSS questions failed to capture 35.

Strategic insights from a Delphi study: enhancing employment for multiply marginalized people with disabilities.

Introduction: The employment landscape for multiply marginalized people with disabilities presents significant challenges, exacerbated by intersecting identities such as race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, poverty, and geography. Recent studies highlight the compounded employment disparities faced by this group, including discriminatory hiring practices, inadequate accommodations, and uneven gains in employment during the COVID-19 public health emergency.

Methods: Our study employed a three-round Delphi process with 20 diverse experts across 14 states across the United States (U.

Experiences of patients with disabilities and sexual or gender minority status during healthcare interactions.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to examine the lived experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and other (LGBTQ+) people with disabilities when interacting with healthcare professionals related to their gender identity, sexuality, and disability.

Subject And Methods: Historically marginalized groups face many inequities in health care. However, little is known about the intersectional experiences of LGBTQ+ people with disabilities when receiving health care given their likelihood to encounter multiple marginalizations.

Counting everyone: evidence for inclusive measures of disability in federal surveys.

The US Census Bureau has used the American Community Survey six-question set (ACS-6) to identify disabled people since 2008. In late 2023, the Census Bureau proposed changes to these questions that would have reduced disability prevalence estimates by 42%. Because these estimates inform funding and programs that support the health and independence of people with disabilities, many disability researchers and advocates feared this change in data collection would lead to reductions in funding and services.

Long COVID Among People With Preexisting Disabilities.

To document the prevalence of long COVID among a sample of survey respondents with long-term disabilities that existed before 2020 and to compare the prevalence among this group with that among the general population. We conducted a cross-sectional, descriptive study using data from the 2022 National Survey on Health and Disability (n = 2262) and comparative data for the general population from the federal Household Pulse Survey (HPS). The prevalence of long COVID was higher among people with preexisting disabilities than in the general population (40.

Navigating new normals: the influence of COVID-19 policies on community access and well-being of people with mobility disabilities in everyday life.

Context: This study explores the influence of COVID-19 public health mandates on people with mobility disabilities in the United States in their everyday lives. It highlights the intersection of disability with social determinants of health, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive policy response.

Methods: Qualitative data were collected through 76 semi-structured interviews with people with mobility disabilities.

Measuring disability among U.S. adolescents and young adults: A survey measurement experiment.

Objective: Disability is identified in surveys using various question sets, with little understanding of reliability across these measures, nor how these estimates may vary across age groups, including adolescents and young adults (AYA). The purpose of this study was to assess AYA prevalence of disability using two disability question sets and reliability of these measures.

Methods: AYA participants in the Policy and Communication Evaluation (PACE) Vermont Study completed a single-item disability question used in the National Survey on Health and Disability (NSHD) and Urban Institute's Health Reform Monitoring Survey (HRMS) and a six-item set on functioning (Washington Group-Short Set, WG-SS) from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) and National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) in 2021.

Piloting the effectiveness of the Workout on Wheels Internet Intervention (WOWii) program among individuals with mobility disabilities.

Background: Doing any amount of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity yields health benefits. Individuals with mobility disabilities are among the least physically active Americans and limited evidence indicates effective strategies to promote physical activity among this group.

Objective: Examine whether a 16-week virtual intervention program (Workout on Wheels internet intervention, WOWii) increases exercise engagement among mobility impaired individuals.

Examining the effects of home modifications on perceptions of exertion and safety among people with mobility disabilities.

Background: People with mobility disabilities often have reduced stamina and limited energy, making daily activities physically demanding. Home modifications, such as installing grab bars and optimizing the environment, have the potential to reduce exertion and enhance safety in the home, enabling individuals to participate more in other activities.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a home modification intervention on perceptions of exertion and safety among people with mobility disabilities.

Gender Diversity, Disability, and Well-Being: Impact of Delayed and Foregone Care Because of COVID-19.

This study explored the impact of delayed and foregone care due to COVID-19 on well-being among disabled and gender diverse adults. Using data from the 2021 National Survey on Health and Disability and logistic regression modeling we assessed the impact of delayed or foregone care due to COVID-19 on well-being among disabled people ( = 1638), with comparisons between cisgender ( = 1538) and gender diverse ( = 100) people with disabilities. We report odds ratios (OR) and confidence intervals (CI).

Injury-related emergency department use among people with intellectual and developmental disabilities insured by Medicaid from 2010 to 2016.

Objectives: Data on non-fatal injuries and visits to the emergency department (ED) for injuries are not readily available. The objective of this paper is to describe injury-related ED visits for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities who are covered by the Medicaid insurance programme.

Methods: We aggregated 2010-2016 Medicaid claims data from eight states.

High-Intensity Functional Training: Perceived Functional and Psychosocial Health-Related Outcomes from Current Participants with Mobility-Related Disabilities.

Background: People with mobility-related disabilities (MRDs) experience many personal and environmental barriers to engagement in community-based exercise programs. We explored the experiences of adults with MRD who currently participate in high-intensity functional training (HIFT), an inclusive and accessible community-based exercise program.

Methods: Thirty-eight participants completed online surveys with open-ended questions, with ten individuals also participating in semi-structured interviews via telephone with project PI.

Health Care Disparities Among Autistic LGBTQ+ People.

Background: Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer (LGBTQ+) people and disabled people experience disparities in access to health care compared with others. However, we have yet to understand how health care disparities may be further exacerbated at the intersection of disability and LGBTQ+ identity, particularly among autistic people.

Objectives: The primary goals of this study were to (1) examine differences in unmet health care needs and health status between LGBTQ+ autistic people and straight/cisgender autistic people and (2) explore how state policies and demographics predict the unmet health care needs of the autistic LGBTQ+ people.

Comparing Measures Of Functional Difficulty With Self-Identified Disability: Implications For Health Policy.

The Affordable Care Act mandated data collection standards to identify people with disabilities in federal surveys to better understand and address health disparities within this population. Most federal surveys use six questions from the American Community Survey (ACS-6) to identify people with disabilities, whereas many international surveys use the six-item Washington Group Short Set (WG-SS). The National Survey on Health and Disability (NSHD), which focuses on working-age adults ages 18-64, uses both question sets and contains other disability questions.

Disparities in Tobacco Use by Disability and Type: Findings From the 2019 National Health Interview Survey.

Introduction: People with disabilities report a higher prevalence of cigarette use than people without disabilities. However, evidence is limited on the relationships between disability type, degree of functional difficulty, and other tobacco product use.

Methods: Data from the 2019 U.

Association of Inadequate Provider Networks with Unmet Need for Health Services and Self-Employment among People with Disabilities.

People with disabilities (PWD) make up over a quarter of the U.S. population and often have complex medical needs.

Examining the Impacts of the Coronavirus Pandemic and Social Distancing on the Health of People With Mobility Disabilities.

Objective: To understand the effects of the coronavirus pandemic on the health and participation of people with mobility disabilities living in the community.

Methods: Participants responded to a survey designed to assess the effects of the coronavirus pandemic on their health and access to health care. Participants identified if various life situations were worsened, unchanged, or improved during the pandemic.

Gender Identity, Disability, and Unmet Healthcare Needs among Disabled People Living in the Community in the United States.

Disabled adults and transgender people in the United States face multiple compounding and marginalizing forces that result in unmet healthcare needs. Yet, gender identity among disabled people has not been explored, especially beyond binary categories of gender. Using cross-sectional survey data, we explored the rates of disability types and the odds of unmet healthcare needs among transgender people with disabilities compared to cisgender people with disabilities.

Understanding successful transition to independent living: A qualitative study of young adults with disabilities.

Background: Independent Living (IL) involves having choice and control over where and with whom one lives. People with disabilities are less likely to live independently than their peers without disabilities.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to understand the perceptions of young adults with mobility disabilities regarding IL, how they define IL, and what advice they would give others considering living a more independent life.

Examining the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on community engagement for people with mobility disabilities.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent mandates upended community participation in the United States. People with disabilities were often more vulnerable to the adverse effects of the pandemic. Some areas of community participation affected for this population include employment, access to transportation, and social engagement and connection to others.

Assessing factors associated with social connectedness in adults with mobility disabilities.

Background: People with mobility disabilities are likely to report limitations in community participation and social connectedness for a variety of reasons, including inaccessible physical environments, health issues, transportation barriers, and limited financial resources. Improving social connectedness is a public health issue and research shows its relation to overall health and life expectancy.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to (1) assess social activity, isolation, and loneliness among people with mobility disabilities compared to those with non-mobility disabilities and (2) understand factors associated with social connectedness among people with mobility disabilities.