Key points
- Data from Disability & Health Data System (DHDS) come from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS).
- The BRFSS is a state-based telephone interview in which an interviewer asks questions on a variety of health risks and behaviors, chronic conditions, and demographics.
- Below are the specific questions and response categories about disability status and types respondents answered.
Disability status
Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) respondents were asked the following:
- "Some people who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing may or may not use equipment to communicate by phone. Are you deaf or do you have serious difficulty hearing?"
- "Are you blind or do you have serious difficulty seeing, even when wearing glasses?"
- "Because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition, do you have serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions?"
- "Do you have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs?"
- "Do you have difficulty dressing or bathing?"
- "Because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition, do you have difficulty doing errands alone such as visiting a doctor's office or shopping?"
Respondents were defined as having any disability if they answered "Yes" to one or more of these questions. Respondents were defined as not having a disability if they answered "No" to all six questions.
Disability Status data available: 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022.
Disability types
Cognitive disability
The BRFSS survey asks respondents, "Because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition, do you have serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions?" The survey classifies respondents who answer "Yes" as having a cognitive disability.
Cognitive disability data available: 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022.
Hearing disability
The BRFSS survey asks respondents, "Some people who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing may or may not use equipment to communicate by phone. Are you deaf or do you have serious difficulty hearing?" The survey classifies respondents who answer "Yes" as having a hearing disability.
Hearing disability data available: 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022.
Mobility disability
The BRFSS survey asks respondents, "Do you have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs?" The survey classifies respondents who answer "Yes" as having a mobility disability.
Mobility disability data available: 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022.
Vision disability
The BRFSS survey asks respondents, "Are you blind or do you have serious difficulty seeing, even when wearing glasses?" The survey classifies respondents who answer "Yes" as having a vision disability.
Vision disability data available: 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022.
Self-care disability
The BRFSS survey asks respondents, "Do you have difficulty dressing or bathing?" The survey classifies respondents who answer "Yes" as having a self-care disability.
Self-care disability data available: 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022.
Independent living disability
The BRFSS survey asks respondents, "Because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition, do you have difficulty doing errands alone such as visiting a doctor's office or shopping?" The survey classifies respondents who answer "Yes" as having an independent living disability.
Independent living disability data available: 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022.