Canadian Survey on Disability (CSD)

The purpose of the Canadian Survey on Disability (CSD) is to provide information about Canadians whose everyday activities may be limited because of a condition or health-related problem. This information will be used to plan and evaluate services, programs and policies for Canadians with disabilities to help enable their full participation in society.

Detailed information for 2012

Data release – Planned for 2013

• Questionnaire(s) and reporting guide(s)
• Description
• Data sources and methodology

Description

The Canadian Survey on Disability (CSD) gathers information about Canadians whose daily activities are limited because of a condition or health-related problem.

Information collected on disabilities will be used by various levels of government to evaluate and develop policies and programs designed for people with disabilities throughout Canada. This information is also essential for the effective development and operation of national employment equity programs.

Internationally, data on disabilities are used to fulfill various commitments, including the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

The survey collects information on the following topics:
- Type and severity of disability
- Use of aids and assistive devices
- Help received or required
- Educational attainment, experiences and accommodations
- Labour force status, experiences and accommodations
- Ability to get around the community

Subjects

• Disability
• Equity and inclusion
• Health
• Society and community

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Data sources and methodology

• Target population
• Instrument design
• Sampling
• Data sources
• Disclosure control

Target population

The population covered by the CSD includes all adults aged 15 and up (as of Census day) who answered "yes" to either of the activity limitation questions on the National Household Survey (NHS, record number 5178), and who were living in Canada at the time of the survey. This includes persons living in private dwellings in the ten provinces and three territories. The population living on First Nations reserves is excluded, as are people living in collective dwellings.

The target population of the CSD is a subset of the covered population, which consists of persons who reported a disability during the CSD interview.

Instrument design

The questionnaire was developed in collaboration with Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC). Input for the CSD survey was obtained from HRSDC's Technical Advisory Group (TAG) on disability which consists of representatives from various community associations across Canada. The questionnaire was tested in both official languages in March 2012.

Sampling

This is a sample survey with a cross-sectional design.

Sampling frame

The sampling frame for the CSD includes all persons 15 years of age or older, as of May 10 2011 (Census day), who answered yes to one of the two activity limitation questions on the National Household Survey (NHS), and who lived in Canada at the time of the survey. The sampling unit is the person.

Sampling design and stratification

The sample design is a two-phase stratified design based on the 2011 NHS. Phase 1, the NHS itself, corresponds to the systematic sample of approximately one household out of three across Canada. Phase 2 involved the selection of individuals who reported an activity limitation at Phase 1.

The strata were defined so as to guarantee large enough samples in the estimation domains and to optimize the sample allocation. Since one of the survey objectives was to allow for statistical profile dissemination of individuals with a disability by province/territory and of various age groups in the population, these estimation domains were considered in the development of the strata.

For the provinces, the estimation domains were formed by crossing the province and the following age groups: 15 to 24 years old, 25 to 44 years old, 45 to 64 years old, 65 to 74 years old and 75 years and over. In Prince Edward Island, the 15 to 24 and the 25 to 44 year olds were combined into a single domain. For the territories, all age groups were combined. Furthermore, for a more optimal sample allocation, the severity of the respondent's disability was included as a stratification variable.

Individuals were considered as severely limited if they answered "yes, often" at least once to the NHS activity limitation questions. Mildly limited individuals were considered to be those who answered "yes, sometimes" at least once to the NHS activity limitation questions, but never answered "yes, often."

Finally, the NHS design was taken into account by constructing six sub-strata as a way of optimizing sample allocation.

Sample allocation

Sample allocation was performed such that, for each domain, a minimum proportion with a maximum coefficient of variation (CV) of 16.5% (16.5% corresponds to the upper limit of a CV in order to be able to effectively qualify the corresponding estimate) could be estimated. The minimum proportion to estimate was set at 9% for the 15 to 24 years old, 7.5% for the 25 to 44 and the 45 to 64 years old, and 11% for the 65 to 74 and 75 years and over. For Prince Edward Island, the minimum proportion to estimate for the 15 to 44 years old was set at 9%, while for 15 year olds and over in the three territories, it was set at 8%.

Sample size

The total sample size for the CSD is approximately 45,500 individuals.

Data sources

Data collection for this reference period: 2012-09-24 – 2012-12-21

Responding to this survey is voluntary.

Data are collected directly from survey respondents and derived from other Statistics Canada surveys.

Data on Canadians aged 15 years or older as of May 10 2011 (Census day), are collected using Computer Assisted Telephone Interviews (CATI). For children between 15 and 17 years of age as of Census day, information may be obtained from a parent or guardian.

The age of the respondent is used to select the sample. The reference date for age of respondent in the CSD is Census day (May 10, 2011). The reference date for other sections of the survey depends upon the subject matter of the question. For example, disability screening questions refer to the last six months, the income questions refer to the past year, and the labour force questions refer to the past week.

In order to reduce the number of questions asked on the CSD, Statistics Canada will combine information collected in the 2011 National Household Survey to the information provided during the CSD interview. Information from other surveys or administrative data sources may also be included.

View the Questionnaire(s) and reporting guide(s)

Disclosure control

Statistics Canada is prohibited by law from releasing any information it collects which could identify any person, business, or organization, unless consent has been given by the respondent or as permitted by the Statistics Act. Various confidentiality rules are applied to all data that are released or published to prevent the publication or disclosure of any information deemed confidential. If necessary, data are suppressed to prevent direct or residual disclosure of identifiable data.

Data based on a count of 10 or fewer respondents are suppressed to ensure confidentiality of respondents. To further reduce risk of disclosures, all estimates are rounded to the nearest 10 units.