This volume of "Research in Social Science and Disability" focuses attention on the dual themes of theory and methodology that must form a basis for studies of impairment and disability. It addresses issues that include: critiques of current concepts of disability; the fit between sociological role theory and the concept of disability; the operationalization of different definitions of disability; conducting surveys with people with impairments; and, the reliability and utility of several qualitative research methodologies as applied to impairment and disability. Overall, the papers in this...

Disability policy has become an increasingly important issue in countries around the world. More and more, as populations are exposed to war and civil conflicts, natural disasters, environmental poisons along with the effects of normal aging, accidents and poverty, disability has become a growing public health and civil rights problem. In order to develop reasonable policy solutions, countries need accurate, reliable estimates of the size and make up of their disabled population. Comparisons of policy solutions cross-nationally require that the data that is used as the basis for the policy...

This volume provides an informed review of the Washington Group accomplishments in the provision of international data and statistics on disability within the context of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. It includes a description of the development and testing of a short set of questions for Censuses, now used in approximately 29 countries; the experiences of several countries on the use of the Washington Group questions and how this has impacted on national agendas in the area of disability; the development and testing of an extended set of questions for use in...