Household Disability Survey Starts 16 June

Household Disability Survey - Interviewing starts 16 June: June 2001

More than 40,000 New Zealanders will take part in New Zealand's second national Household Disability Survey from 16 June to 28 September 2001. The survey will allow users to analyse changes in the prevalence of disability and the experience of people with disabilities since 1996, a period in which there have been significant policy changes. The first national disability survey was held in 1996.

The survey includes both adults and children. People will be asked to complete a telephone interview. Those for whom telephone interviewing is difficult will be interviewed face to face in their own homes. The interviewer will ask people with disabilities about the nature, duration, severity and cause of their disability. Other topics include access to education, housing, transport and employment; assistance needed for daily living and support received from government agencies.

The results will be used by government agencies and the disability community for planning, research, advocacy and decision-making purposes. The survey will provide information about the prevalence of disability amongst the population as a whole and for Mäori and Pacific peoples.

The results of the 1996 survey showed that 19 percent of people in households had at least one disability. Fifty two percent of people aged 65 and over had some form of disability. Further results, along with detailed information on the 2001 survey, are available from the Statistics New Zealand website www.stats.govt.nz.

Results from the 2001 Household Disability Survey will be published in April 2002.

Brian Pink GOVERNMENT STATISTICIAN

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