Comparative Data and Monitoring

Professor Stefanos Grammenos (Centre for European Social and Economic Policy) presented an update on the piloting of key quantitative indicators relevant to the EU 2020 strategy.

Pan-European statistical databases, such as EU-SILC, provided the data for comparing participation and outcomes for disabled women and men in the EU Member Statesin a range of areas, including: demographics; employment, unemployment and economic activity rates; risk of povertyand severe material deprivation; accessibility of public transport, postal and banking services; completion of tertiary education.

Figures were presented to enable comparison with non-disabled people in each country, which are included on the presentation slides and will be published in the task report

Dr. Sarah Woodin (Leeds University) illustrated the UK’s national disability equality indicator set with reference to examples of education, employment and poverty. These indicators are established and monitored by the Office for Disability Issues, a Government body that co-ordinates disability policy across departments in England and Wales. It is the UK focal point for UNCRPD, in collaboration with the Scottish and Northern Ireland governments.

Within the set, indicators are provided for: Childhood and education; Employment, Income and poverty; Attitudes; Participation; Access to goods and services; Crime and justice; Independent living. Taking education as an example, indicators compare disabled and non-disabled participation rates at different levels of education and qualifications achieved, first destination after end of education and comparative satisfaction levels with higher education courses.

Ms. Luule Sakkeus (ANED country expert for Estonia) outlined the project ‘Integration of Disabled Population in Estonia’, established by the Ministry of Social Affairs in 2008 to develop national indicators in relation to the main aspects of quality of life for disabled people.

Statistics Estonia 2010 initiated a working group to agree the data sources, including participation by the Ministry of Education and Research, Ministry of Social Affairs, ANED county expert, and National Institute for Health Development. It agreed on seven main topics for national indicators, based on the ANED proposals developed in 2009: Profile and structure of disabled population; Personal and Family life; Choice and control; Access to goods and services; Education and life-long learning; Work and employment; Income and poverty.

A new database has been elaborated and will be operational by the end of 2011. Over the next year the database will be implemented and additional indicators developed. In 2014, the European Health and Social Integration Surveywill be conducted in Estonia and a statistical analysis, ‘Quality of life and social integration of disabled population’, published.

Professor Howard Meltzer (University of Leicester) spoke about the opportunities for statistical indicator development in relation to measuring disability equality in Europe.In particular, he outlined the content of the European Health and Social Integration Survey(EHSIS).

The EHSIS is based on the following principles: measurement of disability is informed by the biopsychosocial model of the ICF; difficulties in participation are taken as the starting point; environmental factors are incorporated as topics in their own right ; The focus is on barriers rather than facilitators, being cognisant that several barriers can operate at once. The measures sacrifice some detail to achieve greater applicability but have utility in relation to producing indicators.

The EHSIS questionnaire includes sections on: Mobility, Transport, Accessibility of buildings, Education and training, Employment, Internet use, Social contact and support, Leisure pursuits, Economic Life, Negative attitudes and behaviour.

EHSIS is designed to focus on disability equality issues. Each section starts by asking about participation, rather than about health or impairments. Participation is measured according to what respondents want to do, taking account of capacity and performance. For those with limited participation, EHSIS seeks to identify whether the barriers are personal (heath conditions, impairments) or environmental (finances, convenience, lack of assistive devices or personal help).

Presentation Professor Stefanos Grammenos:

Audio recording (MP3 25 min)
Powerpoint (PDF 316 kB)
Handout (PDF 328 kB)

Presentation Dr. Sarah Woodin:

Audio recording (MP3 7 min)
Powerpoint (PDF 676 kB)
Handout (PDF 611 kB)

Presentation Ms. Luule Sakkeus:

Audio recording (MP3 9 min)
Powerpoint (PDF 70 kB)
Handout (PDF 43 kB)

Presentation Professor Howard Meltzer:

Audio recording (MP3 12 min)
Powerpoint (PDF 76 kB)
Handout (PDF 50 kB)