Postal Code
Sociodemographic Data Collection Training
Page 14/23
Housing Status
Disability
The question:
At the hub, when youth are provided the sociodemographic questionnaire the question they receive related to disabilities is:
| Do you have any of the following disabilities? (Please check all that apply) |
|---|
| o Chronic illness o Developmental disability o Learning disability o Physical disability o Sensory disability (i.e., hearing or vision loss) o Other o I prefer not to answer o I do not know o No disabilities |
Disability is a physical (body), mental (mind) or intellectual (the way information is processed) condition that impacts and may limit movements, senses, or activities. Disability is often described as social oppression faced by people with impairments living in an environment that is not organized to accommodate their needs. People with disabilities encounter more barriers to care that generate health inequities.
This question purpose and use of this question was informed by a human rights approach to understanding disability. It is not intended, nor should it function as, a diagnostic tool. Responses to this question are based on however a youth identifies, there is no right or wrong answer.
Rationale for this question:
Important considerations:
- Youth with disabilities are not a homogenous group, and there are significant differences in the type and severity of disability, further diversified by age, race, gender, socioeconomic status and other factors.
- To ensure the best possible care for youth with disabilities, maintain adequate time allocated for appointments, availability of sign language interpretation, non-fluorescent lighting, wheel chair accessible space, and provide information about services and health in relevant accessible formats.
- In past pilots, there have been high rates of choosing ‘other’. A look at those numbers reveals that many can fall under the existing categories (e.g. diabetes, cancer, HIV+, ADHD, etc.). In a conversation with the youth, we encourage you to explore with them if their ‘other’ response fits in with the categories, but reminding them that the ultimate decision is up to them. This is especially important so that service providers and sites can provide other points of care and referrals based on the youth’s needs and response.
Responding to youth asking why they are being asked this question:
We collect this information for us to understand the types of accommodation we need to plan for to improve access and provide better care.
