Canadian Survey on Disability, 2017: Concepts and Methods Guide
Appendix B – Identifying disability types
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The 2017 Canadian Survey on Disability (CSD), covering persons aged 15 years or over, used the Disability Screening Questions (DSQ) to identify each disability type discussed below.
Seeing disabilities
Persons with a seeing disability are identified as persons whose daily activities are limited because of difficulties with their ability to see. Two questions are used to identify persons with a seeing disability. The first question asked about the level of difficulty a person has in seeing (with their glasses or contact lenses on, where applicable). Then, for those with at least some difficulty seeing, a subsequent question asked how often this difficulty limited their daily activities (see table below).
Among persons who indicated that they have at least some difficulty seeing (with their glasses or contact lenses on, where applicable), those who reported that this difficulty limited their daily activities were defined as having a seeing disability. One exception to this is where a person reported a specific combination of “some” difficulty seeing but “rarely” being limited in their daily activities – this group was not identified as having a seeing disability. The table below summarizes the combination of responses to the two questions that served to classify someone as having a seeing disability.
| 1. Which of the following best describes your ability to see? (with your glasses or contact lenses) |
2. How often does this condition limit your daily activities? | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Never | Rarely | Sometimes | Often | Always | |
| No difficulty seeing | No seeing disabilityTable B.1 Note 2 | No seeing disabilityTable B.1 Note 2 | No seeing disabilityTable B.1 Note 2 | No seeing disabilityTable B.1 Note 2 | No seeing disabilityTable B.1 Note 2 |
| Some difficulty seeing | No seeing disability | No seeing disability | Seeing disability | Seeing disability | Seeing disability |
| A lot of difficulty seeing | No seeing disability | Seeing disability | Seeing disability | Seeing disability | Seeing disability |
| Are legally blind or blind | No seeing disability | Seeing disability | Seeing disability | Seeing disability | Seeing disability |
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Hearing disabilities
Persons with a hearing disability are identified as persons whose daily activities are limited because of difficulties with their ability to hear. Two questions are used to identify persons with a hearing disability. The first question asked about the level of difficulty a person has in hearing (with their hearing aid or cochlear implant, where applicable). Then, for those with at least some difficulty hearing, a subsequent question asked how often this difficulty limited their daily activities (see table below).
Among persons who indicated that they have at least some difficulty hearing (even with their hearing aid or cochlear implant), those who reported that this difficulty limited their daily activities were defined as having a hearing disability. One exception to this is where a person reported a specific combination of “some” difficulty hearing but “rarely” being limited in their daily activities – this group was not identified as having a hearing disability. The table below summarizes the combination of responses to the two questions that served to classify someone as having a hearing disability.
| 1. Which of the following best describes your ability to hear? (with your hearing aid or cochlear implant) |
2. How often does this condition limit your daily activities? | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Never | Rarely | Sometimes | Often | Always | |
| No difficulty hearing | No hearing disabilityTable B.2 Note 2 | No hearing disabilityTable B.2 Note 2 | No hearing disabilityTable B.2 Note 2 | No hearing disabilityTable B.2 Note 2 | No hearing disabilityTable B.2 Note 2 |
| Some difficulty hearing | No hearing disability | No hearing disability | Hearing disability | Hearing disability | Hearing disability |
| A lot of difficulty hearing | No hearing disability | Hearing disability | Hearing disability | Hearing disability | Hearing disability |
| Cannot hear at all or are Deaf | No hearing disability | Hearing disability | Hearing disability | Hearing disability | Hearing disability |
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Mobility disabilities
Persons with a mobility disability are identified as persons whose daily activities are limited because of difficulties with their ability to move around, including walking or using stairs. Three questions are used to identify persons with a mobility disability. The first question asked about the level of difficulty a person has with walking on a flat surface for 15 minutes without resting (with the use of an aid providing minimal support, such as a cane, walking stick or crutches, where applicable). The second question asked if they had difficulty walking up or down a flight of stairs, about 12 steps without resting (with the use of an aid such as a cane, walking stick or crutches, where applicable). Then, for those who reported at least some difficulty either walking or with stairs, a third question asked how often this difficulty limited their daily activities (see table below).
Among persons who indicated that they have at least some difficulty with mobility (with the use of an aid providing minimal support, such as a cane, where applicable) those who reported that this difficulty limited their daily activities were defined as having a mobility disability. One exception to this is where a person reported a specific combination of at most “some” difficulty walking on a flat surface or walking up and down a flight of stairs but “rarely” being limited in their daily activities – this group was not identified as having a mobility disability. The table below summarizes the combination of responses to the three questions that served to classify someone as having a mobility disability.
| 1. How much difficulty do you have walking on a flat surface for 15 minutes without resting?Table B.3 Note 2 2. How much difficulty to you have walking up or down a flight of stairs, about 12 steps, without resting?Table B.3 Note 2 |
Where Question 1 or Question 2 indicates at least some difficulty... 3. How often does this difficulty limit your daily activities? |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Never | Rarely | Sometimes | Often | Always | |
| No difficulty | No mobility disabilityTable B.3 Note 3 | No mobility disabilityTable B.3 Note 3 | No mobility disabilityTable B.3 Note 3 | No mobility disabilityTable B.3 Note 3 | No mobility disabilityTable B.3 Note 3 |
| Some difficulty | No mobility disability | No mobility disability | Mobility disability | Mobility disability | Mobility disability |
| A lot of difficulty | No mobility disability | Mobility disability | Mobility disability | Mobility disability | Mobility disability |
| Cannot do at all | No mobility disability | Mobility disability | Mobility disability | Mobility disability | Mobility disability |
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Flexibility disabilities
Persons with a flexibility disability are identified as persons whose daily activities are limited because of difficulties bending down or reaching. Three questions are used to identify persons with a flexibility disability. The first question asked about the level of difficulty a person has with bending down and picking up an object from the floor. The second question asked if they had difficulty reaching in any direction, for example, above their head. Then, for those who reported at least some difficulty with bending down or reaching, a subsequent question asked how often this difficulty limited their daily activities (see table below).
Among persons who indicated that they have at least some difficulty with flexibility, those who reported that this difficulty limited their daily activities were defined as having a flexibility disability. One exception to this is where a person reported a specific combination of at most “some” difficulty bending down or reaching but “rarely” being limited in their daily activities – this group was not identified as having a flexibility disability. The table below summarizes the combination of responses to the three questions that served to classify someone as having a flexibility disability.
| 1. How much difficulty do you have bending down and picking up an object from the floor? 2. How much difficulty do you have reaching in any direction, for example, above your head? |
Where Question 1 or Question 2 indicates at least some difficulty... 3. How often does this difficulty limit your daily activities? |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Never | Rarely | Sometimes | Often | Always | |
| No difficulty | No flexibility disabilityTable B.4 Note 2 | No flexibility disabilityTable B.4 Note 2 | No flexibility disabilityTable B.4 Note 2 | No flexibility disabilityTable B.4 Note 2 | No flexibility disabilityTable B.4 Note 2 |
| Some difficulty | No flexibility disability | No flexibility disability | Flexibility disability | Flexibility disability | Flexibility disability |
| A lot of difficulty | No flexibility disability | Flexibility disability | Flexibility disability | Flexibility disability | Flexibility disability |
| Cannot do at all | No flexibility disability | Flexibility disability | Flexibility disability | Flexibility disability | Flexibility disability |
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Dexterity disabilities
Persons with a dexterity disability are identified as persons whose daily activities are limited because of difficulties using their fingers to grasp small objects. Two questions are used to identify persons with a dexterity disability. The respondent is asked first about the level of difficulty they have using their fingers to grasp small objects like a pencil or scissors. Then, for those who reported at least some difficulty, a subsequent question asks how often this difficulty limited their daily activities (see table below).
Among persons who indicated that they have at least some difficulty with dexterity, those who reported that this difficulty limited their daily activities were defined as having a dexterity disability. One exception to this is where a person reported a specific combination of “some” difficulty grasping small objects with their fingers but “rarely” being limited in their daily activities – this group was not identified as having a dexterity disability. The table below summarizes the combination of responses to the three questions that served to classify someone as having a dexterity disability.
| 1. How much difficulty do you have using your fingers to grasp small objects like a pencil or scissors? | 2. How often does this difficulty limit your daily activities? | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Never | Rarely | Sometimes | Often | Always | |
| No difficulty | No dexterity disabilityTable B.5 Note 2 | No dexterity disabilityTable B.5 Note 2 | No dexterity disabilityTable B.5 Note 2 | No dexterity disabilityTable B.5 Note 2 | No dexterity disabilityTable B.5 Note 2 |
| Some difficulty | No dexterity disability | No dexterity disability | Dexterity disability | Dexterity disability | Dexterity disability |
| A lot of difficulty | No dexterity disability | Dexterity disability | Dexterity disability | Dexterity disability | Dexterity disability |
| Cannot do at all | No dexterity disability | Dexterity disability | Dexterity disability | Dexterity disability | Dexterity disability |
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Developmental disabilities
Persons with a developmental disability are identified as persons who have been diagnosed with this condition, regardless of the level of difficulty or the frequency of the activity limitations reported. One question is used to identify persons with a developmental disability. Respondents were asked if a doctor, psychologist or other health care professional ever said that they had a developmental disability or disorder. Where the respondent said “yes” to this question, they were identified as having a developmental disability. The table below identifies the question that served to classify someone as having a developmental disability.
| 1. Has a doctor, psychologist or other health care professional ever said that you had a developmental disability or disorder? This may include Down syndrome, autism, Asperger syndrome, mental impairment due to lack of oxygen at birth, etc. | Yes | No |
|---|---|---|
| Developmental disability | No developmental disability | |
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Mental health-related disabilities
Persons with a mental health-related disability are identified as persons whose daily activities are limited because of difficulties with an emotional, psychological or mental health condition. Three questions are used to identify persons with a mental health-related disability. The first question asked the respondent if they had any emotional, psychological or mental health conditions. For those who said “yes” to this question, a subsequent question asked how often their daily activities were limited by their condition (when using medication or therapy, where applicable). Finally, for those reporting such a limitation, a follow-up question asked how much difficulty they have in their daily activities when they are experiencing this condition (see table below).
Among persons who indicated that they had an emotional, psychological or mental health condition, those who reported that this condition limited their daily activities were defined as having a mental health-related disability. One exception to this is where a person reported a specific combination of “rarely” being limited in their daily activities along with experiencing “some” difficulty or “no difficulty” with their daily activities – this group was not identified as having a mental health-related disability. The table below summarizes the combination of responses to the three questions that served to classify someone as having a mental health disability.
| 1. Do you have any emotional, psychological or mental health conditions? These may include anxiety disorder, depression, bipolar disorder, substance abuse, anorexia as well as other conditions. | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3. When you are experiencing this condition, how much difficulty do you have with your daily activities?Table B.7 Note 2 | Where Question 1 = Yes ... 2. How often are your daily activities limited by this condition?Table B.7 Note 2 |
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| Never | Rarely | Sometimes | Often | Always | |
| No difficulty | No mental health-related disabilityTable B.7 Note 3 | No mental health-related disability | Mental health-related disability | Mental health-related disability | Mental health-related disability |
| Some difficulty | No mental health-related disabilityTable B.7 Note 3 | No mental health-related disability | Mental health-related disability | Mental health-related disability | Mental health-related disability |
| A lot of difficulty | No mental health-related disabilityTable B.7 Note 3 | Mental health-related disability | Mental health-related disability | Mental health-related disability | Mental health-related disability |
| Cannot do most activities | No mental health-related disabilityTable B.7 Note 3 | Mental health-related disability | Mental health-related disability | Mental health-related disability | Mental health-related disability |
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Memory disabilities
Persons with a memory disability are identified as persons whose daily activities are limited because of difficulties with ongoing memory problems or periods of confusion. Three questions are used to identify persons with a memory disability. The first question asked the respondent if they had any ongoing memory problems or periods of confusion, excluding occasional forgetfulness such as not remembering where they put their keys. For those who said “yes” to this question, a subsequent question asked how often their daily activities were limited by this problem (when using medication or therapy, where applicable). Finally, for those reporting such a limitation, a follow-up question asked how much difficulty they have in their daily activities when they are experiencing this problem (see table below).
Among persons who indicated that they had ongoing memory problems or periods of confusion, those who reported that this problem limited their daily activities were defined as having a memory disability. One exception to this is where a person reported a specific combination of “rarely” being limited in their daily activities along with having “some” difficulty or “no difficulty” with their daily activities – this group was not identified as having a memory disability. The table below summarizes the combination of responses to the three questions that served to classify someone as having a memory disability.
| 1. Do you have any ongoing memory problems or periods of confusion? Exclude occasional forgetfulness such as not remembering where you put your keys. | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3. How much difficulty do you have with your daily activities because of this problem?Table B.8 Note 2 | Where Question 1 = Yes ... 2. How often are your daily activities limited by this problem?Table B.8 Note 2 |
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| Never | Rarely | Sometimes | Often | Always | |
| No difficulty | No memory disabilityTable B.8 Note 3 | No memory disability | Memory disability | Memory disability | Memory disability |
| Some difficulty | No memory disabilityTable B.8 Note 3 | No memory disability | Memory disability | Memory disability | Memory disability |
| A lot of difficulty | No memory disabilityTable B.8 Note 3 | Memory disability | Memory disability | Memory disability | Memory disability |
| Cannot do most activities | No memory disabilityTable B.8 Note 3 | Memory disability | Memory disability | Memory disability | Memory disability |
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Learning disabilities
Persons with a learning disability are identified as persons whose daily activities are limited because of a self-identified learning difficulty or a learning disability diagnosed by a health care professional. Four questions are used to identify persons with a learning disability. The first question asked respondents if they thought they had a condition that makes it difficult in general for them to learn. Respondents were then asked if a teacher, doctor or other health care professional ever said they had a learning disability. For those who said “yes” to either of these two questions, a subsequent question asked how often this condition limited their daily activities. Finally, for those reporting such a limitation, a follow-up question asked how much difficulty they experienced in their daily activities because of this condition (see table below).
Among persons who indicated a self-identified or diagnosed learning condition, those who reported that this condition limited their daily activities were defined as having a learning disability. One exception to this is where a person reported a specific combination of “rarely” being limited in their daily activities along with having “some” difficulty or “no difficulty” with daily activities – this group was not identified as having a learning disability. The table below summarizes the combination of responses to the four questions that served to classify someone as having a learning disability.
| 1. Do you think you have a condition that makes it difficult in general for you to learn? This may include learning disabilities such as dyslexia, hyperactivity, attention problems, as well as other conditions. 2. Has a teacher, doctor or other health care professional ever said that you had a learning disability? |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4. How much difficulty do you have with your daily activities because of this condition?Table B.9 Note 2 | Where Question 1 or Question 2 = Yes ... 3. How often are your daily activities limited by this condition? |
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| Never | Rarely | Sometimes | Often | Always | |
| No difficulty | No learning disabilityTable B.9 Note 2 | No learning disability | Learning disability | Learning disability | Learning disability |
| Some difficulty | No learning disabilityTable B.9 Note 2 | No learning disability | Learning disability | Learning disability | Learning disability |
| A lot of difficulty | No learning disabilityTable B.9 Note 2 | Learning disability | Learning disability | Learning disability | Learning disability |
| Cannot do most activities | No learning disabilityTable B.9 Note 2 | Learning disability | Learning disability | Learning disability | Learning disability |
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Pain-related disabilities
Persons with a pain-related disability are identified as persons whose daily activities are limited because of pain that is always present or due to periods of pain that reoccur from time to time. Four questions are used to identify persons with a pain-related disability. The first question asked respondents if they have pain that is always present. Respondents were then asked if they had periods of pain that reoccur from time to time. For those who said “yes” to either of these two questions, a subsequent question asked how often this pain limited their daily activities. Finally, for those reporting such a limitation, a follow-up question asked how much difficulty they have in their daily activities when they are experiencing this pain (based on when the respondent is using medication or therapy, where applicable) (see table below).
Among persons who indicated that they had constant or reoccurring pain, those who reported that this pain limited their daily activities were defined as having a pain-related disability. One exception to this is where a person reported a specific combination of “rarely” being limited in their daily activities along with experiencing “some” difficulty or “no difficulty” with daily activities – this group was not identified as having a pain-related disability. The table below summarizes the combination of responses to the four questions that served to classify someone as having a pain-related disability.
| 1. Do you have pain that is always present? 2. Do you have periods of pain that reoccur from time to time? |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4. When you are experiencing pain, how much difficulty do you have with your daily activities?Table B.10 Note 2 | Where Question 1 or Question 2 = Yes ... 3. How often does this pain limit your daily activities?Table B.10 Note 2 |
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| Never | Rarely | Sometimes | Often | Always | |
| No difficulty | No pain-related disabilityTable B.10 Note 3 | No pain-related disability | Pain-related disability | Pain-related disability | Pain-related disability |
| Some difficulty | No pain-related disabilityTable B.10 Note 3 | No pain-related disability | Pain-related disability | Pain-related disability | Pain-related disability |
| A lot of difficulty | No pain-related disabilityTable B.10 Note 3 | Pain-related disability | Pain-related disability | Pain-related disability | Pain-related disability |
| Cannot do most activities | No pain-related disabilityTable B.10 Note 3 | Pain-related disability | Pain-related disability | Pain-related disability | Pain-related disability |
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Unknown disabilities
Persons with an unknown disability are identified as persons whose daily activities are limited because of any long-term health problem or condition other than the 10 specific types of disabilities identified by the survey (seeing, hearing, mobility, flexibility, dexterity, pain, learning, developmental, mental health and memory disabilities). Two questions are used to identify persons with an unknown disability. First, respondents were asked if they have any other health problem or long-term condition (not already reported) that has lasted or is expected to last for six months or more. Where the respondent said “yes” to this question, a subsequent question asked how often this health problem or condition limited their daily activities (see chart below). The survey does not ask about level of difficulty for the unknown type.
It should be noted that this unknown type of disability is counted only if no other limitation has been reported under the 10 specific types of disabilities listed above. It was observed that respondents with a disability that fell under one of the 10 types tended to report the disease or condition that caused their disability under “other”. Double counting of disability types was thus avoided.
As such, among persons who indicated that they have another long-term health problem or condition, and for whom no other limitation was reported under the 10 specific types of disabilities listed above, those who reported that this other health problem or condition limited their daily activities “sometimes”, “often” or “always” were defined as having an unknown disability. The table below summarizes the combination of responses to the two questions that served to classify someone as having an unknown disability.
| 1. Do you have any other health problem or long-term condition that has lasted or is expected to last for six months or more? |
2. How often does this health problem or condition limit your daily activities? | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Never | Rarely | Sometimes | Often | Always | |
| YesTable B.11 Note 1 | No unknown disability | No unknown disability | Unknown disabilityTable B.11 Note 1 | Unknown disabilityTable B.11 Note 1 | Unknown disabilityTable B.11 Note 1 |
| No | No unknown disabilityTable B.11 Note 2 | No unknown disabilityTable B.11 Note 2 | No unknown disabilityTable B.11 Note 2 | No unknown disabilityTable B.11 Note 2 | No unknown disabilityTable B.11 Note 2 |
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