Disability: key data sources

A 2003 study by Sharon Davidson of NHS Health Scotland (funded by The Scottish Executive’s Scottish Neighbourhood Statistics project) investigated all potential indicators of disability in Scotland. The final report (click here to download  (400KB)) includes detailed appendices on all sources of disability-related data, including administrative data, voluntary sector data, and survey data.

More recently, the Scottish Executive’s Social Focus on Disability publication (2004) collated material from a range of survey and data sources including the Scottish Household Survey, the Labour Force Survey and the 2001 Census to produce a single document summarising statistics on disability in Scotland. The topics covered include the disabled population, households & housing, qualifications & education, labour market, health & care, and income & benefits.

Another useful summary document in terms of disability-related statistics is Disability in Scotland 2004: Key Facts and Figures, published in 2005 by the Disability Rights Commission (DRC)

Note also that some disability related data (e.g. adults unable to work due to illness/disability, disability living allowance, attendance allowance claimants, long-term limiting illness, self-assessed health classified as 'not good') are included within NHS Health Scotland's Community Profiles (now held within this website).