Final Report on RREF 2001 - Department of Health

• In cases where the person with a disability is unable to answer, information is
sought from another appropriate member of the household, often a co-resident
carer
• When necessary, interpreters were supplied wherever possible.
• The ABS engages in extensive consultation with user groups in the course of
developing each DACS survey, including representatives of disability and
older persons groups.
• The survey forms and questions are extensively trialled
FAQ 5:
Can rates of handicap by LGA be linked to age cohorts and level of handicap?
Responses: • The rates of handicap used in the RREF are calculated on the basis of the age
structure of each LGA, for all levels of handicap together.
• Separate figures can be calculated for each level, but would be subject to
large errors of estimate.
FAQ 6:
Are disability groups with Acquired Brain Injury (ABI), Attention Deficit
Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), chronic illness and mental health problems
included in the survey?
Responses: • the disabilities included in the survey are listed in Box 2.1
• disability is defined in terms of the consequences of illness conditions for
functioning rather than on the basis of diseases
• both mental and physical conditions leading to disability are included
• the requirement that the disability has lasted or is likely to last for 6 months
distinguishes chronic conditions from short term and acute health problems
FAQ 7:
Is the sample size large enough to provide reliable estimates at LGA level?
Responses: • The 1998 sample obtained responses from 15,300 dwellings and covered
37,951 persons, and 400 cared accommodation establishments with 5,716
residents.
• The response rate for households was 94.4%
• This sample size was determined so as to enable statistically reliable
estimates of the numbers of people at each level of disability by age and
gender nationally, in each state, and by LGA .
FAQ 8:
Is the 0-4 age group included in DACS?
Responses: • this age group was included in the 1998 survey but not in the 1993 or earlier
DACS
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