Disability equality indicators

The Disability Equality Indicators are a starting point in measuring progress towards disability equality. They cover a number of themes that disabled people have told us are important to them. These indicators are used to help monitor progress on the Independent Living Strategy, the Roadmap and the UN Convention.

We work with partners across Government to ensure there is transparency in how we compare the life chances of disabled people to non-disabled people. Further indicators will be published as data becomes available.

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Baseline and Trends: Baseline year – 2004. Figures from 2009 show that children in families with a disabled parent/guardian were significantly less likely to use childcare than children in families with no disabled parent/guardian. The gap between families with disabled children and children in families with no disabled parent/guardian was not significant. In 2009, 58% of children in families with a disabled parent/guardian used childcare compared to 65% of children in families with no disabled parent/guardian. In the same period, 63% of families with disabled children used childcare. These figures cannot be compared to the 2004 baseline for the reasons outlined below.

* new definition of childcare used from 2008

Definition: Data for children in families with a disabled parent/guardian is taken from questions on whether the respondent to the survey, and/or the respondent's partner (if they have one) are disabled. The data covers use of any childcare, both formal and informal over a referenced term time week. Data covers England.

New features to the survey were introduced in 2008 in order to prompt parents to report that their children were receiving out-of-school provision through breakfast clubs or after-school clubs, while previously (in the 2004 and 2007 surveys) they may not have mentioned these activities because of perceiving them as not relevant to a study about childcare. In addition parents of four years olds who reported their child was at school but did not report any early years education were prompted and asked whether their child was attending reception class which is classified as childcare.

In order to enable comparisons across years a set of measures for 2008 which are consistent with 2004 and 2007 where also derived.  Hence the two sets of figures for 2008 reported above.

Further details about these methodological changes can be found in section 2.2 of the Childcare and Early Years Survey of Parents 2008.

Note: The group formerly referred to as "families where no-one is disabled" is now is now referred to as "families with no disabled parents/guardians".

Independent Living Strategy (ILS): This indicator is also used to monitor the Independent Living Strategy, for which the baseline is 2007.

Data Source: Childcare and Early Years Survey of Parents

Published: 06 December 2010

Baseline and Trends: Baseline year – 2006/07. Figures from 2009/10 show that pupils with Special Educational Needs (SEN), both with and without a statement, missed 1.9% of half days of schooling through unauthorised absence compared to 0.8% half days of schooling missed by pupils without SEN.

Definition: The absence rate presented above is the number of sessions missed due to unauthorised absence as a proportion of total sessions of schooling. The assessment of child’s Special Educational Needs by local authorities determines whether the local authority issues a statement of the child’s needs or not.

Disability was collected for the first time from schools on an optional basis in the 2011 School Census. SEN provides a limited proxy until consistent data are available from schools on disability (there are both disabled children who do not have SEN and non disabled children who do have SEN). SEN provision information is taken from the January of the examination year. Data collected prior to 2006/07 is not comparable due definitional changes. Data covers England.

Data Source: National Pupil Database

Published: 10 October 2011

Baseline and Trends: Baseline year – 2005. Between 2005 and 2009, the percentage of students achieving at least Level 4 at Key Stage 2 in English has

• increased from 91% to 92% for students without SEN
• increased from 41% to 47% for students with SEN without a statement
• increased from 16% to 17% for students with SEN with a statement

During the same period, the percentage of students achieving at least Level 4 at Key Stage 2 in Maths has

• increased from 86% to 90% for students without SEN
• increased from 41% to 50% for students with SEN without a statement
• increased from 18% to 21% for students with SEN with a statement

During the same period, the percentage of students achieving at least Level 4 at Key Stage 2 in Science has

• increased from 94% to 95% for students without SEN
• increased from 66% to 72% for students with SEN without a statement
• increased from 32% to 34% for students with SEN with a statement

Definition: Expected level of achievement at Key Stage 2 is level 4. Key Stage 2 is the legal term for the four years of schooling in England and Wales in maintained schools normally known as Year 3, Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6. Attainment in National Curriculum tests at the end of the Key Stage (Year 6) is the data presented here. The assessment of child’s Special Educational Needs by local authorities determines whether the local authority issues a statement of the child’s needs or not. Data is not currently collected by disability, SEN provides a limited proxy (there are both disabled children who do not have SEN and non disabled children who do have SEN). Data covers England.

Data Source: National Pupil Database which matches School Census and Attainment data

Published: 23 August 2010

Baseline and Trends: Baseline year – 2005. Between 2005 and 2007, the percentage of students achieving at least Level 5 at Key Stage 3 in English has

• decreased from 84% to 83% for students without SEN
• increased from 12% to 14% for students with SEN with a statement
• increased from 36% to 38% for students with SEN without a statement

During the same period, the percentage of students achieving at least Level 5 at Key Stage 3 in Maths has

• increased from 83% to 86% for students without SEN
• increased from 15% to 18% for students with SEN with a statement
• increased from 38% to 43% for students with SEN without a statement

During the same period, the percentage of students achieving at least Level 5 at Key Stage 3 in Science has

• increased from 79% to 83% for students without SEN
• increased from 17% to 20% for students with SEN with a statement
• increased from 33% to 40% for students with SEN without a statement

Definition: Expected level of achievement at Key Stage 3 is level 5. Key Stage 3 is the legal term for the three years of schooling in England and Wales in maintained schools normally known as Year 7, Year 8, and Year 9. Attainment in National Curriculum tests at the end of the Key Stage (Year 9) is the data presented here. Data covers England. The assessment of child’s Special Educational Needs by local authorities determines whether the local authority issues a statement of the child’s needs or not. Data is not currently collected by disability, SEN provides a limited proxy (there are both disabled children who do not have SEN and non disabled children who do have SEN).

Data Source: Figures combine School Census Data and Attainment Data

Published: 02 June 2009

Baseline and Trends:  Baseline year - 2005/06. Between 2005/06 and 2009/10, the percentage of pupils at the end of Key Stage 4 achieving 5 or more GCSE or equivalent qualifications at grades A*-C has:

• increased from 66.3 per cent to 85.3 per cent for pupils without Special Educational Needs (SEN);
• increased from 19.8 per cent to 50.9 per cent for pupils with SEN without a statement;
• increased from 8.7 per cent to 19.7 per cent for pupils with SEN with a statement.

Statistical significance tests were not available at time of publication.

Definition: Data covers maintained schools only, including academies and City Technology Colleges and excluding independent schools, pupil referral units, independent special schools, and non-maintained special schools and, for post-16, any pupils in sixth forms centres and further education sector colleges. The assessment of child’s SEN by local authorities determines whether the local authority issues a statement of the child’s needs or not. 

Disability was collected for the first time from schools on an optional basis in the 2011 School Census. SEN provides a limited proxy until consistent data are available from schools on disability (there are both disabled children who do not have SEN and non-disabled children who do have SEN). Data covers England. Figures are final with the exception of 2009/10 data which are provisional figures. SEN provision information is taken from the January of the examination year.

Note: Previously published data has been revised to take into consideration final figures.

Data Source: National Pupil Database

Published: 21 March 2011

Baseline and Trends: The chart below shows data from 2003/04. This states 39% of disabled 16 year olds were studying level 3 qualifications in comparison to 50% of non disabled 16 year olds. This is a significant gap.

Definition: Level 3 qualifications equate to 2 A-level passes or their equivalent. YCS respondents report whether or not they are disabled; they are not asked about the type of disability. There is considerable volatility over time in the reporting of disability and the sample sizes tend to be small. Any analysis of the disabled group is subject to fairly wide confidence intervals. The YCS gives us some understanding of the differences between the disabled and non disabled group within a cohort. There are limits to using data from successive cohorts to reliably infer trends in these differences.

Note: Updated figures were not available at the time of publication.

Data Source: Youth Cohort Study (YCS) Cohort 12, Sweep 1 (16 year olds in England and Wales 2003/04)

Published: 01 December 2008

Baseline and Trends: The chart below shows data from 2005/06, which will provide the baseline. This states 38% of disabled 18 year olds achieved level 3 qualifications in comparison to 46% of non disabled 18 year olds. This is a significant gap.

Definition: YCS respondents report whether or not they are disabled; they are not asked about the type of disability. There is considerable volatility over time in the reporting of disability and the sample sizes tend to be small. Any analysis of the disabled group is subject to fairly wide confidence intervals. The YCS gives us some understanding of the differences between the disabled and non disabled group within a cohort. There are limits to using data from successive cohorts to reliably infer trends in these differences.

Note: Updated figures were not available at the time of publication.

Data Source: Youth Cohort Study (YCS) Cohort 12, Sweep 3 (18 year olds in England and Wales in 2005/06)

Published: 01 December 2008

Baseline and Trends: The chart below shows data from 2003/04, which will provide the baseline. This states 28% of disabled 19 year olds had experience of higher education in comparison to 41% of non disabled 19 year olds. This is a significant gap.

Definition: YCS respondents report whether or not they are disabled; they are not asked about the type of disability. There is considerable volatility over time in the reporting of disability and the sample sizes tend to be small. Any analysis of the disabled group is subject to fairly wide confidence intervals. The YCS gives us some understanding of the differences between the disabled and non disabled group within a cohort. There are limits to using data from successive cohorts to reliably infer trends in these differences.

Note: Updated figures were not available at the time of publication.

Data Source: Youth Cohort Study (YCS) Cohort 11, Sweep 4 (19 year olds in England and Wales in 2003/04)

Published: 01 December 2008

Baseline and Trends: Baseline year – 2005/06. Figures from 2009/10 show that disabled students who completed their first degree were less likely to attain a first class or upper second degree than non-disabled people. In 2009/10, 59 per cent of disabled students who completed their first degree attained a first class or upper second class degree in comparison to 63 per cent of non-disabled students. These figures have changed significantly from the baseline.

Definition: Disability is identified by students on the basis of their own self-assessment. For continuing students, where the information is not already known, institutions have the option of recording the student’s disability as not sought. As a result, some institutions have not returned disability data for some of their students. In addition, students are not obliged to report a disability. Higher Education Statistics Agency therefore advises that the figures reported in analyses are derived from a subset which may not be representative of the total student population. The data covers students in the United Kingdom.

Data Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency

Published: 03 March 2011

Baseline and Trends: Baseline year – 2004/05. Figures from 2008/09 show that 5.0 per cent of young disabled students in receipt of Disabled Students Allowance (DSA), 8.4 per cent of young disabled students not in receipt of DSA, and 6.5 per cent of young non-disabled students did not continue in higher education after their first year.  The figures for young non-disabled students and young disabled students not in receipt of DSA have significantly decreased since the previous year. There has been no significant change for young disabled students in receipt of DSA since the previous year.

The 2008/09 figures also show that 10.1 per cent of mature disabled students in receipt of DSA, 15.8 per cent of mature disabled students not in receipt of DSA, and 12.9 per cent of mature non-disabled students did not continue in higher education after their first year.  The figures for mature non-disabled students and mature disabled students not in receipt of DSA have significantly decreased since the previous year. There has been no significant change for mature disabled students in receipt of DSA since the previous year.

A10 – Students who do not continue in higher education after their first year (Young)

Definition: Disability is self reported where not in receipt of DSA.  Young students are those under 21 on 30 September in the year they enter higher education.  The data covers full time first degree students at all United Kingdom Higher Education Institutions.

Data Source: Higher Education Funding Council for England analysis of Higher Education Statistics Agency student records.

Published: 10 October 2011

Baseline and Trends: Baseline year – 2005. Figures from 2005 show that there are minimal differences in satisfaction levels with higher education courses between non-disabled people (3.97), those with dyslexia (3.87) and those affected by other disabilities (3.94). These figures have not significantly changed since the baseline.

Definition: Disability is self reported. Data covers England, Wales, Northern Ireland and some higher education institutions in Scotland. Respondents were asked to choose an answer ranging from “Definitely agree” (5) to “Definitely disagree” (1). The scale mean presented here is obtained by adding together the students’ responses to the items under each heading, and dividing by the number of items in the scale in order to get a measure which ranges from 1 to 5 in line with the original measurement scale. Thus, a score of 1 on a scale would represent a response of definitely disagree to all constituent items; while a score of 5 would represent a response of definitely agree to all the items on the scale.

Data Source: National Student Survey

Published: 01 December 2008

Baseline and Trends: Baseline year – 2004/05. Figures from 2009/10 show that disabled graduates were less likely to be in employment and more likely to be unemployed or in further study as non-disabled graduates six months after graduating.

In 2009/10, 60.3 per cent of disabled graduates were in employment, compared to 65.2 per cent of non-disabled graduates, whilst 14.3 per cent of disabled graduates were assumed to be unemployed, compared to 11.0 per cent of non-disabled graduates. In the same period, 16.3 per cent of disabled graduates were in further study compared to 15.0 per cent of non-disabled graduates, whilst around 7.6 per cent of disabled and 7.7 per cent of non-disabled graduates were engaged in both employment and further study. The figures for disabled graduates have not significantly changed since the baseline.

Definition: Disability is self-reported. Data covers UK domiciled graduates from full-time courses. A full list of relevant qualifications and further information can be found at the Higher Education Statistics Agency website: http://www.hesa.ac.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2150&Itemid=161

Note: Due to corrections, figures from 2004/05 differ from those previously published.

Data Source: Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey (DLHE), Higher Education Statistics Agency

Published: 10 October 2011

Baseline and Trends: Baseline year – 2007. Latest figures from 2009 show that 12.4% of 16-18 year olds with learning difficulties and/or disabilities (LDD) are not in education, employment or training compared to 6.0% of young people with no learning difficulties and/or disabilities. Comparative figures from 2007 show that 13.1 per cent of young people with learning difficulties and/or disabilities (LDD) were not in employment, education or training compared to 6.2 per cent of young people with no learning difficulties or disabilities. No significance testing has been carried out as figures are based on administrative data.

Definition: The definition of LDD given in the 2000 Learning and Skills Act; i.e. a young person has a learning difficulty and/or disability if (a) they have a significantly greater difficulty in learning than the majority of persons of their age, or (b) they have a disability which either prevents or hinders them from making use of facilities of a kind generally provided by institutions providing post-16 education or training. Around 5% of 16-18 year olds on the database have had no recent contact with Connexions, and so no current activity is recorded; NEET figures are adjusted to allow for this. Furthermore, the figures may not include those educated independently or others not known to Connexions. Percentages for 2007, 2008 and 2009 are calculated using 3-month average figures. Data covers England.

Note: Figures for 2007 and 2008 have been updated to be aligned with other NEET data. This indicator mirrors National Indicator No. 117, which is part of the “New Performance Framework for Local Authorities and Local Authority partnerships: Single Set of National Indicators”.

Independent Living Strategy (ILS): This indicator is used to monitor the Independent Living Strategy.

Data Source: Connexions Services

Published: 23 August 2010

Baseline and Trends: Baseline year – 2008. Figures from 2009 show that disabled young people were less likely to be involved in positive activities than non disabled young people. In 2009, 64 per cent of disabled young people were involved in positive activities compared to 66 per cent of non disabled young people. The percentage of non disabled young people involved in positive activities has significantly decreased since the baseline. No other figures have significantly changed since the baseline.

Definition: Data covers young people in year 10 attending mainstream and special schools that have taken part in a group activity led by an adult outside school lessons in the past four weeks. The activities were defined as of one of the following:

1. Sports club or class
2. A youth centre or club to take part in organised activities
3. Art, craft, dance, drama, film/video-making group.

Disabled respondents were defined in the survey as those young people who answered ‘Yes’ to the question ‘Do you have a disability?’ Data is for England.

Note: Comparison between years needs to be treated with caution - the 2008 data has been adjusted to account for different data collection timing (Summer opposed to Autumn term) and significance tests were calculated using a national design effect rather than a specific disability grouping effect. This indicator mirrors National Indicator No. 110.

Independent Living Strategy (ILS): This indicator is used to monitor the Independent Living Strategy. For more information please refer to:

Data Source: Tellus4 Survey

Published: 19 July 2010

Baseline and Trends: Baseline year – 2005. Figures from 2010 show that disabled people are significantly less likely to be in employment than non disabled people. The trend shows that there has consistently been an employment rate gap. In 2010, 48.4 per cent of disabled people were in employment compared to 77.5 per cent of non-disabled people. Employment rates of disabled people have significantly increased since the baseline, while the employment rates for non-disabled people have significantly decreased.

When these figures are broken down by full-time and part-time, data from 2010 shows 33.5 per cent of disabled people were in full-time employment, compared to 58.6 per cent of non-disabled people; and 14.4 per cent of disabled people were in part-time employment, compared to 18.8 per cent of non-disabled people. Full-time employment rates of non-disabled people have significantly decreased since the baseline. No other figures have significantly changed since the baseline.

Definition: The data covers all working age adults (males aged 16-64, females aged 16-59) who report they are in employment (including self employment).  Respondents who report a current disability consistent with the Disability Discrimination Act are defined as disabled. The non-disabled population refers to all those not classified as DDA disabled. Data is for Great Britain.

Independent Living Strategy (ILS): This indicator is used to monitor the Independent Living Strategy, which covers England only. Data for England only shows that, between 2007 (ILS baseline) and 2010 the employment rate of disabled people has increased from 47.8 per cent to 48.9 per cent, whilst the employment rate of non-disabled people has decreased from 79.6 per cent to 77.5 per cent in the same period. Employment rates of non-disabled people have significantly decreased since the baseline. No other figures have significantly changed since the baseline.

Note: Previously published Labour Force Survey figures have been updated to reflect changes to weighting variables. Caution must be taken when interpreting significant changes in the data due to time series variation.

Data Source: Labour Force Survey, Q2

Published: 17 January 2011

Baseline and Trends: Baseline year – 2005. Figures from 2010 show that for the working-age disabled population, there are substantial disparities in employment outcomes. For example, the employment rate for people with depression or bad nerves is significantly lower than the employment rate for most other types of impairment.

Definition: The data covers all working age adults (males aged 16-64, females aged 16-59) who report they are in employment (including self employment). Respondents who report a current disability consistent with the Disability Discrimination Act are defined as disabled.  Respondents who experience multiple difficulties are asked to identify their main impairment. Data is for Great Britain.

Note: Where an impairment category contains less than 100 responses the category is labelled ‘N/A’, not available. In addition, some impairment types have been excluded from the table due to consistently small sample sizes over the time period. They are: difficulties in seeing, difficulties in hearing, mental illness, phobias and panics, learning difficulties and speech impediments. Significance testing on these figures has not been carried out.

Data Source: Labour Force Survey, Q2

Published: 17 January 2011

Baseline and Trends: Baseline year – 2005. Figures from 2010 show that disabled people compared to non disabled people are significantly less likely to be an employee (41.5% compared to 67.9%) or self-employed (6.9% compared to 9.6%), more likely to be unemployed (11.0% compared to 7.5%) and more than twice as likely to be inactive (45.6% compared to 16.2%).

Definition: The data covers all working age adults (males aged 16-64, females aged 16-59).  Respondents who report a current disability consistent with the Disability Discrimination Act are defined as disabled.  Data is for Great Britain.

Note: In accordance with the Office for National Statistics (ONS) definition of unemployment, the ‘ILO unemployed’ category represents the following people as a percentage of the economically active working age population:

• out of work, want a job, have actively sought work in the last four weeks and are available to start work in the next two weeks
• currently out of work, have found a job and are waiting to start it in the next two weeks.

As a result, the sum of all of the categories may be greater than 100 per cent.

Data Source: Labour Force Survey, Q2

Published: 17 January 2011

Baseline and Trends: Baseline year – 2005. Figures from 2010 show that disabled people are significantly less likely to be in high-level employment compared to non-disabled people. The trend shows that there has consistently been a gap. In 2010, 50.1 per cent of disabled people reported that they were in high-level employment compared to 56.2 per cent of non-disabled people. The percentage of non-disabled people in high-level employment has significantly increased since the baseline. No other figures have significantly changed since the baseline.

Definition: The data covers all working age adults (males aged 16-64, females aged 16-59) who report they are in employment (including self employment).  High-level employment is considered to include those who report to be managers or senior officials, in professional occupations, are associate professionals or technical professionals, or work in skilled trade occupations.  Respondents who report a current disability consistent with the Disability Discrimination Act are defined as disabled.  Data is for Great Britain. Caution must be taken when interpreting significant changes in the data due to time series variation.

Data Source: Labour Force Survey, Q2

Published: 17 January 2011

Baseline and Trends: Baseline year – 2005. Between 2005 and 2010, the percentage of working age people who have never worked has:

• increased from 7.8% to 9.2% amongst disabled people
• increased from 7.3% to 8.9% amongst non-disabled people

Since the baseline the percentage of both disabled and non-disabled people who have never worked has significantly deteriorated.

Definition: The data covers all working age adults (males aged 16-64, females aged 16-59) who report they have never worked according to National Statistics Socioeconomics Classification. Respondents who report a current disability consistent with the Disability Discrimination Act are defined as disabled. Data is for Great Britain.

Note: All previously published Labour Force Survey figures have slightly changed due to the recent re-weighting of the survey population. Previously published figures have been recalculated taking those who are either currently ILO unemployed or inactive, and that have said they have never had a paid job. This has then been expressed as a percentage of the working age population.

Data Source: Labour Force Survey, Q2

Published: 17 January 2011

Baseline and Trends: Baseline year – 2005. Figures from 2010 show that disabled people in employment are equally as likely as non-disabled people to want to work more hours. In 2010, 10.5 per cent of disabled people reported that they would like to work more hours compared to 10.2 per cent of non-disabled people. The percentages of both disabled and non-disabled people of working age in work who would like to work more hours have significantly increased since the baseline.

Definition: The data covers all working age adults (males aged 16-64, females aged 16-59) who report they are in employment (including self employment) and would like to work more hours at the basic rate of pay.  Respondents who report a current disability consistent with the Disability Discrimination Act are defined as disabled.  Data is for Great Britain.

Data Source: Labour Force Survey, Q2

Published: 17 January 2011

Baseline and Trends: Baseline – 2005. Figures from 2010 show that disabled people earn less than non-disabled people as measured by the mean hourly wage rates. In 2010, the mean hourly wage rate of disabled people was £12.16, while that of non-disabled people was greater at £12.68.  In 2005 there was a statistically significant gap between the mean hourly wage rates of disabled and non-disabled people, however in 2010 the gap has closed and is no longer statistically significant.

Definition: The data covers all working age adults (males aged 16-64, females aged 16-59) who report they are in employment and their wage rate. Data includes overtime, but excludes those in self-employment, government employment, training programmes, unpaid family workers and income from second jobs). Respondents who report a current disability consistent with the Disability Discrimination Act are defined as disabled.  Data is for Great Britain.

Data Source: Labour Force Survey, Q2

Published: 17 January 2011

Baseline and Trends: Baseline year – 2005. Between 2005 and 2010, the percentage of working age people with no qualification has:

• decreased from 26.7% to 20.1% amongst disabled people
• decreased from 11.2% to 7.8% amongst non-disabled people

During the same period, the percentage of working age people with Level 2 qualifications has:

• increased from 12.7% to 14.7% amongst disabled people
• remained stable amongst non-disabled people at around 16.6%

The percentage of working age people with degree-level qualifications has:

• increased from 9.9% to 13.4% amongst disabled people
• increased from 19.6% to 24.6% amongst non-disabled people

Definition: The data covers working age adults (males aged 16-64, females aged 16-59).  Educational qualifications/levels reported here are intended as the highest qualification/level held. Respondents who report a current disability consistent with the Disability Discrimination Act are defined as disabled.  Level 2 qualifications equate to A*-C GCSE grades or their equivalent.  Data is for Great Britain.

Data Source: Labour Force Survey, Q2

Published: 17 January 2011

Baseline and Trends: Baseline year – 2004/05.

This indicator has three components, the percentage of children living in families with:

1. a disabled member,
2. disabled children, regardless of adult disability, and
3. no disabled members.

Changes since the baseline
Before Housing Costs, there has been a statistically significant decrease in the percentage of children living in families with a disabled member who live in low income. This has dropped by 4 percentage points to 25 per cent. There has also been a statistically significant decrease in the percentage of children living in low income in families with a disabled child, regardless of adult disability. This has dropped by 5 percentage points to 19 per cent. After Housing Costs, there have been no statistically significant changes in any of the components of the indicator.

Changes since 2008/09
Before Housing Costs, there have been statistically significant decreases in the percentage of children living in low income in families where:

• no-one is disabled, from 20 per cent to 18 per cent
• at least one member is disabled, from 29 per cent to 25 per cent
• there is a disabled child regardless of adult disability, from 28 per cent to 19 per cent.

After Housing Costs there has been a statistically significant decrease in the percentage of children living in low income in families with a disabled child regardless of adult disability, from 37 per cent to 28 per cent.

On both Before and After Housing Costs bases the proportion of children in low income is significantly higher in families:

• where at least one member is disabled than in families where no-one is disabled
• where at least one member is disabled than in families where at least one child is disabled

On Both Before and After Housing Costs bases there is no significant difference in the proportion of children in low income where at least one child is disabled and families where no-one is disabled.

Children living in households with incomes below 60 per cent of median equivalised household income Before Housing Costs

Children living in households with incomes below 60 per cent of median equivalised household income After Housing Costs

Definition: Disabled people are defined as respondents who report a limiting long standing illness, disability or infirmity. Everyone in this group is likely to meet the definition of disability in the Equality Act 2010 (and the Disability Discrimination Act which was in force at the time of the survey). Data is for United Kingdom.

Data Source: Family Resources Survey 2009/10

Published: 12 May 2011

Independent Living Strategy (ILS): This indicator is used to monitor the Independent Living Strategy, which covers England only. Data for England shows that in 2008/09 on a Before Housing Cost basis, 20 per cent of children in families where no one is disabled were living in income poverty compared to 29 per cent of children in families with disabled children regardless of adult disability and 29 per cent of children in families where at least one member is disabled. On an After Housing Cost basis, 28 per cent of children in families where no one is disabled were living in income poverty compared to 38 per cent of children in families with disabled children regardless of adult disability and 40 per cent of children in families where at least one member is disabled. On both Before and After Housing Costs bases, there have been no statistically significant changes since 2007/08 ILS baseline registered through this indicator.

On both Before and After Housing Costs bases:

• the proportion of children in low income is significantly higher in families where at least one member is disabled than families where no one is disabled
• the proportion of children in low income is significantly higher in families where at least one child is disabled than families where no one is disabled
• there is no significant difference in the proportion of children in low income where at least one child is disabled and families where at least one member is disabled

Data Source: Family Resources Survey 2008/09

Published: 20 May 2010

Baseline and Trends: Baseline year – 2004/05.

The proportion of children in low income and material deprivation has decreased in 2009/10 and since 2004/05 for each type of family. The lowest proportion of children living in low income and material deprivation are in families where no-one is disabled. A higher proportion of children in families with any disabled member live in low income and material deprivation than children in families with disabled children, regardless of adult disability.

Children living in low income and material deprivation

Definition: Disabled people are defined as respondents who report a limiting long standing illness, disability or infirmity. Everyone in this group is likely to meet the definition of disability in the Equality Act 2010 (and the Disability Discrimination Act which was in force at the time of the survey). Data is for United Kingdom. A child is considered to be living in low income and material deprivation if they live in a family that has a material deprivation score of 25 or more and a household income below 70 per cent contemporary median income, Before Housing Costs, see Households Below Average Income for further details.

Data Source: Family Resources Survey 2009/10

Published: 12 May 2011

Baseline and Trends: Baseline year – 2004/05.

Changes since the baseline
Before Housing Costs, there has been a statistically significant decrease in the percentage of individuals living in low income in families where at least one member is disabled from 23 per cent to 21 per cent (no statistically significant change After Housing Costs). There has been a statistically significant increase in the percentage of individuals living in low income in families where no-one is disabled After Housing Costs from 19 per cent to 21 per cent (no statistically significant change Before Housing Costs).

Changes since 2008/09
Before Housing Costs, there has been a statistically significant decrease in the percentage of individuals living in low income in families where at least one member is disabled from 23 per cent to 21 per cent (no statistically significant change After Housing Costs). There have been no statistically significant changes in the percentage of individuals living in low income in families where no member is disabled.

Both Before and After Housing Costs, a higher proportion of individuals living in families with at least one disabled member live in low income, compared to individuals living in families with no disabled members.

Individuals living in households with income below 60 per cent of median equivalised household income Before Housing Costs

Individuals living in households with income below 60 per cent of median equivalised household income After Housing Costs

Definition: Disabled people are defined as respondents who report a limiting long standing illness, disability or infirmity. Everyone in this group is likely to meet the definition of disability in the Equality Act 2010 (and the Disability Discrimination Act which was in force at the time of the survey).

Data Source: Family Resources Survey 2009/10

Published: 12 May 2011

Independent Living Strategy (ILS): This indicator is used to monitor the Independent Living Strategy, which covers England only. Data for England shows that in 2008/09 on a Before Housing Cost basis, 16 per cent of individuals in families where no one is disabled were living in income poverty, compared to 22 per cent of individuals in families where at least one member is disabled. On an After Housing Cost basis, 21 per cent of individuals in families where no one is disabled were living in income poverty, compared to 26 per cent of individuals in families where at least one member is disabled.

Both Before and After Housing Costs, there has been a statistically significant decrease in the percentage of individuals living in low income in families where at least one member is disabled since 2007/08 ILS baseline, compared to no statistically significant change in the percentage of individuals living in low income in families where no member is disabled.

Both Before and After Housing Costs, a higher proportion of individuals living in families with at least one disabled member live in low income, compared to individuals living in families with no disabled members. This gap is statistically significant.

Data Source: Family Resources Survey 2008/09

Published: 20 May 2010

Standard measures of income poverty do not take any account of additional costs associated with disability, which is likely to mean that the position of disabled people in the income distribution may be somewhat upwardly biased. Whilst it is recognised that there are additional costs associated with disability, research shows that these vary significantly in level and nature, and there is no general agreement on how to measure these costs. The combined low income and material deprivation indicator allows a fuller assessment of the living standards of those households facing particular difficulties due to high living costs, including those associated with disability.

The following measures exclude Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance from income, as these are benefits paid as a contribution towards the extra costs of disability. This has the effect of increasing the percentage of families with disabled members shown as living in poverty.

Children living in low income

Baseline and Trends: Baseline year – 2004/05.

Changes since the baseline
Before and After Housing Costs, there have been statistically significant decreases in the percentage of children living in low income in families where at least one member is disabled from 32 per cent to 27 per cent and 41 per cent to 38 per cent respectively.

Before Housing Costs, there has been a statistically significant decrease in the percentage of children in low income in families with disabled children regardless of adult disability from 28 per cent to 21 per cent (no statistically significant change After Housing Costs).

There has been no statistically significant change in the percentage of children in low income in families where no-one is disabled Before and After Housing Costs.

Changes since 2008/09
Before and After Housing Costs there have been statistically significant decreases in the percentage of children living in low income in families with disabled children, regardless of adult disability.

There has been a statistically significant decrease in the percentage of children living in low income in families with a disabled member Before Housing Costs (no statistically significant change After Housing Costs).

There has been a statistically significant decrease in the percentage of children in low income in families where no-one is disabled Before Housing Costs (no statistically significant change After Housing Costs).

On both Before and After Housing Costs bases the proportion of children in low income is significantly higher in families where:

• at least one member is disabled than in families where no one is disabled
• at least one child is disabled than in families where no one is disabled.

On both Before and After Housing Costs bases the proportion of children in low income in families where at least one child is disabled is lower than in families where at least one member is disabled.

Children living in households with incomes below 60 per cent of median equivalised household income Before Housing Costs

Children living in households with incomes below 60 per cent of median equivalised household income After Housing Costs

Data Source: Family Resources Survey 2009/10

Definition: Disabled people are defined as respondents who report a limiting long standing illness, disability or infirmity. Everyone in this group is likely to meet the definition of disability in the Equality Act 2010 (and the Disability Discrimination Act which was in force at the time of the survey). Data is for United Kingdom.

Independent Living Strategy (ILS): This indicator is used to monitor the Independent Living Strategy, which covers England only. Data for England shows that in 2008/09 on a Before Housing Cost basis, 18 per cent of children in families where no one is disabled were living in income poverty compared to 31 per cent of children in families with disabled children regardless of adult disability and 31 per cent of children in families where at least one member is disabled. On an After Housing Cost basis, 27 per cent of children in families where no one is disabled were living in income poverty compared to 42 per cent of children in families with disabled children regardless of adult disability and 42 per cent of children in families where at least one member is disabled. On both Before and After Housing Costs bases, there have been no statistically significant changes since 2007/08 ILS baseline registered through this indicator.

On both Before and After Housing Costs bases:

• the proportion of children in low income is significantly higher in families where at least one member is disabled than families where no one is disabled
• the proportion of children in low income is significantly higher in families where at least one child is disabled than families where no one is disabled
• there is no significant difference in the proportion of children in low income where at least one child is disabled and families where at least one member is disabled

Data Source: Family Resources Survey 2008/09

Children living in low income and material deprivation

Baseline and Trends: Baseline year – 2004/05. The proportion of children in low income and material deprivation is similar in 2009/10 to that in 2004/05 for children in families where no-one is disabled. The proportion of children in low income and material deprivation is lower for children in families where at least one member is disabled and for children in families with disabled children regardless of adult disability in 2009/10 compared with 2004/05.

The lowest proportion of children living in low income and material deprivation live in families where no one is disabled. The proportion of children in low income and material deprivation is lower for children in families with disabled children regardless of adult disability than for children in families where at least one member is disabled.

Children living in low income and material deprivation

Definition: Disabled people are defined as respondents who report a limiting long standing illness, disability or infirmity. Everyone in this group is likely to meet the definition of disability in the Equality Act 2010 (and the Disability Discrimination Act which was in force at the time of the survey). Data is for United Kingdom.

A child is considered to be living in low income and material deprivation if they live in a family that has a material deprivation score of 25 or more and a household income below 70 per cent contemporary median income, Before Housing Costs, see Households Below Average Income for further details.

Note: Due to methodological improvement, data from 2004/05 to 2008/09 differ slightly to that previously published.

Data Source: Family Resources Survey 2009/10

Individuals living in low income

Baseline and Trends: Baseline year – 2004/05.

Both Before and After Housing Costs, there have been statistically significant decreases between 2004/05 and 2009/10 in the percentage of individuals living in low income in families where at least one member is disabled; there has been a statistically significant increase in the percentage of individuals living in low income in families where no one is disabled After Housing Costs (no statistically significant change Before Housing Costs).

Changes since 2008/09
Both Before and After Housing Costs there have been no statistically significant changes in the percentage of individuals living in low income in families where no member is disabled. Before Housing Costs there has been a statistically significant decrease in the percentage of individuals living in low income in families where at least one member is disabled (no statistically significant change After Housing Costs).

Both Before and After Housing Costs, a higher proportion of individuals living in families with at least one disabled member live in low income, compared to individuals living in families with no disabled members.

Individuals living in households with incomes below 60 per cent of median equivalised household income Before Housing Costs

Individuals living in households with incomes below 60 per cent of median equivalised household income After Housing Costs

Definition: Disabled people are defined as respondents who report a limiting long standing illness, disability or infirmity. Everyone in this group is likely to meet the definition of disability in the Equality Act 2010 (and the Disability Discrimination Act which was in force at the time of the survey). Data is for United Kingdom.

Data Source: Family Resources Survey 2009/10

Independent Living Strategy (ILS): This indicator is used to monitor the Independent Living Strategy, which covers England only. Data for England shows that in 2008/09 on a Before Housing Cost basis, 16 per cent of individuals in families where no one is disabled were living in income poverty, compared to 26 per cent of individuals in families where at least one member is disabled. On an After Housing Cost basis, 21 per cent of individuals in families where no one is disabled were living in income poverty, compared to 30 per cent of individuals in families where at least one member is disabled.

Both Before and After Housing Costs, there has been a statistically significant decrease in the percentage of individuals living in low income in families where at least one member is disabled since 2007/08 ILS baseline, compared to no statistically significant change in the percentage of individuals living in low income in families where no member is disabled.

Both Before and After Housing Costs, a higher proportion of individuals living in families with at least one disabled member live in low income, compared to individuals living in families with no disabled members. This gap is statistically significant.

Data Source: Family Resources Survey 2008/09

Published: 12 May 2011

Baseline and Trends: Baseline year – 2005. Figures for England from 2009 show that 23.6 per cent of households including a disabled person live in fuel poverty, compared to 16.3 per cent of households with no disabled person. Between 2005 and 2009, the percentage of households living in fuel poverty has:

• increased from 9.8 per cent to 23.6 per cent in households including a disabled person;
• increased from 6.2 per cent to 16.3 in per cent households with no disabled person.

Statistical significance tests have not been applied due to the complex nature of the sampling methodology used in the survey.

Definition: Households affected by disability are defined as households containing at least one respondent who reports a long term disability, illness or infirmity that limits their activities. A household is defined as fuel poor if it needs to spend more than 10% of household income on fuel to maintain a satisfactory heating regime (usually 21°C for the main living area and 18°C for other occupied rooms). Data is for England.

For more information about the fuel poverty statistics please see:
http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/statistics/fuelpov_stats/fuelpov_stats.aspx

For information on fuel poverty policies, see:
http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/what_we_do/consumers/fuel_poverty/fuel_poverty.aspx
 
Data Source: DECC fuel poverty data/DCLG English Housing Survey

Published: 01 October 2011

Baseline and Trends: Baseline year – 2002-05. Figures from 2005-08 show that disabled adults are more likely to live in persistent poverty than non-disabled adults. Before Housing Costs, figures from 2005-08 show that 12 per cent of disabled adults were living in persistent poverty, compared to 6 per cent of non-disabled adults. After Housing Costs, 11 per cent of disabled adults were living in persistent poverty, compared to 7 per cent of non-disabled adults.

On a Before Housing Cost basis, the proportions of both disabled and non-disabled adults living in persistent poverty have not changed since the baseline. Similarly, on an After Housing Cost basis, the proportion of non-disabled adults has not changed since the baseline. On an After Housing Cost basis, there has been a small decrease from the baseline in the proportion of disabled adults living in persistent poverty from 12 per cent to 11 per cent. Our current significance testing methodology does not cover this type of statistic.

Definition: A disabled adult is defined as someone aged over 18 or over 16 if not in full-time education, whose work, or amount of work that he/she is able to do, is limited by his/her health condition(s). For the purpose of creating the persistent poverty indicator, an individual is characterised as disabled if he/she has had a disability in any of the 4 years considered. Low income is defined in terms of threshold of median income, specifically 60 per cent of median income, and is based on the median of the survey year in question. Persistent low income is defined by spending 3 or more years, out of any 4-year period, in a household with below 60 per cent of median income. Data covers Great Britain.

Data Source: British Household Panel Survey

Published: 02 February 2011

Baseline and Trends: Baseline – 2005. Figures from 2008 show that disabled people were significantly more likely to experience unfair treatment at work than non disabled people. In 2008, 19 per cent of disabled people experienced unfair treatment at work compared to 13 per cent of non disabled people. These figures cannot be compared to the 2005 baseline for the reasons outlined below.

Definition: Changes to the sampling collection method prevent significance testing from being carried out between years. In addition, the definition of unfair treatment at work has also changed between years. In 2005, unfair treatment related to a respondent’s experience of unfair treatment, with their current or most recent employer, within the previous two years as a result of their age, gender, disability, etc.

The full list can be found in the 2005 Fair Treatment at Work report (page 19). In 2008, unfair treatment refers to a respondent being treated unfairly compared to others in the workplace. It also includes experience of unfair treatment with a previous employer in the last two years. Further details can be found in the 2008 Fair Treatment at Work report (page 64). Respondents who identify having a long-term illness, health problem or disability are defined as disabled. Data is for Great Britain.

Independent Living Strategy (ILS): This indicator is used to monitor the Independent Living Strategy, which covers England only. Data for England only shows a similar result; disabled people in England were significantly more likely to experience unfair treatment at work than non disabled people. In 2008, 20 per cent of disabled people experienced unfair treatment at work compared to 13 per cent of non disabled people.

Data Source: Fair Treatment at Work Survey

Published: 08 December 2009

Baseline and Trends: Baseline year – 2005. In 2010 71 per cent of the general population were aware of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA). This is significantly less than the baseline year – 2005 – when 73 per cent of the population were aware of the act.

Definition: The ONS Opinions Survey selects a random sample of individuals aged 16 years and over living in private households in Great Britain.  This indicator looks at awareness of the Disability Discrimination Act in the general survey population without being prompted of its aims/coverage.  Data aggregates the 8 waves of the survey run in each year.

Data Source: ONS Opinions Survey

Published: 10 October 2011

Baseline and Trends: Baseline year – 2008. Figures from 2008 show that 71 per cent of disabled people believe that they have been treated with respect and consideration by their local public services compared to 73 per cent of non disabled people.

Definition: The figures above reflect the percentage of respondents who feel that they have been treated with respect and consideration by their local public services. Disabled respondents are defined as those respondents who say they have any long standing illness, disability or infirmity (long standing means anything that has troubled you over a period of time or that is likely to affect you over a period of time). Data is for England.

The Place Survey is designed to be carried out by local authorities to collect information about local resident’s perceptions of their local area and the local services they receive. It is a postal (self-completion) survey. Postal surveys, whereby the respondent completes the questionnaire without assistance from a survey interviewer, are much less costly to carry out compared with face-to-face surveys. However, postal surveys can present greater challenges in terms of accurately measuring the views of particularly hard-to-reach groups, such as disabled residents.

Independent Living Strategy (ILS): This indicator is used to monitor the Independent Living Strategy. For more information please refer to the Independent Living pages.

Data Source: Place Survey

Published: 19 July 2010

Baseline and Trends: Baseline year – 2005. Figures from 2009-10 show that disabled people are significantly less likely to engage in formal volunteering. In 2009-10, 22 per cent of disabled people engaged in formal volunteering at least once a month compared with 26 per cent of non disabled people, whilst 28 per cent of disabled people engaged in informal volunteering at least once a month compared with 30 per cent of non disabled people. Participation rates for formal volunteering of non disabled people have significantly decreased since the baseline. Participation rates for informal volunteering for both disabled and non disabled people have significantly decreased since the baseline. No other figures have significantly changed since the baseline.

Definition: Disability is defined as having a long standing illness or disability that limits activity. Data is for adults (aged 16 or over) only. Informal volunteering is defined as giving help or support to someone who is not a relative and formal volunteering is defined as giving unpaid help to groups, clubs or organisations. Data covers England.

Independent Living Strategy (ILS): This indicator is used to monitor the Independent Living Strategy, for which the baseline is 2007/08.

Data Source: Citizenship Survey

Published: 23 August 2010

Baseline and Trends: Baseline year – 2005. Figures from 2009-10 show that disabled people were significantly less likely to have engaged in civic involvement than non disabled people. In 2009-10, 60 per cent of non disabled people undertook at least one activity of civic involvement in the last 12 months compared with 55 per cent of disabled people. The percentage of non disabled people engaged in civic involvement has significantly decreased since the baseline. No other figures have significantly changed since the baseline.

Civic involvement includes formal volunteering, civic activism, civic participation and civic consultation. Please see definition section for further details.

Civic participation, consultation and activism

Disaggregated by activity, figures from 2009-10 show that disabled people were just as likely to have been involved in civic participation, civic consultation and civic activism compared to non disabled people.

In 2009-10, 35 per cent of disabled people were engaged in civic participation compared with 34 per cent of non disabled people. In the same period, 19 per cent of disabled people compared with 18 per cent of non disabled people were involved in civic consultation and 10 per cent of both disabled people and non disabled people were involved in civic activism. None of these differences are statistically significant. The percentage of non disabled people involved in civic participation and civic consultation has significantly decreased since the baseline. No other figures have significantly changed since the baseline.

	2005		2006/7		2008/9		2009/10
	Disabled	Non disabled	Disabled	Non disabled	Disabled	Non disabled	Disabled	Non disabled
Civic participation	38%	38%	38%	39%	42%	37%	35%	34%
Civic consultation	20%	20%	21%	21%	20%	20%	19%	18%
Civic activism	8%	9%	10%	10%	10%	10%	10%	10%

Definition: Disability is defined as having a long standing illness or disability that limits activity. Data covers England and includes adults only (aged 16 or over). Civic involvement is defined by an individual reporting that they had undertaken at least one of the activities below in the past 12 months:

• Civic participation - contacting a local councillor, MP, local council official, government official, attending a public meeting or rally, taking part in a public demonstration, or protest, signing a petition
• Civic consultation - taking part in consultation by completing a questionnaire, attending a public meeting or being involved in a group to discuss local services
• Civic activism - being a local councillor, school governor, a volunteer Special Constable or a Magistrate; being a member of a decision making group about local services e.g., local health services
• Formal volunteering - unpaid help to groups, clubs or organisations (this information is located in indicator E1)

Independent Living Strategy (ILS): The civic participation sub-indicator is used to monitor the Independent Living Strategy, for which the baseline is 2007/08.

Data Source: Citizenship Survey

Published: 29 August 2010

Baseline and Trends: Baseline year – 2005/06. Figures from 2009/10 show that disabled people remain significantly less likely to participate in all cultural, leisure and sporting activities than non-disabled people. Such activities include:

• using a public library service
• visiting a museum, gallery or archive
• engaging with the arts
• visiting a historic environment site
• participation in sports
• going to the cinema.

Participation in culture, leisure and sports by activity

A breakdown of participation in culture, leisure and sporting activities by sector reveals significant changes between both disabled and non-disabled people from the baseline year (2005/06).

Compared with the 2005/06 baseline, disabled people are significantly less likely to have:

• participated in moderate intensity level sports
• attended a historic environment site
• attended a library.

Similarly, non-disabled people are significantly less likely to have:

• attended a library.

Compared with the 2005/06 baseline, disabled people are significantly more likely to have:

• attended a cinema
• attended a museum or gallery.

Similarly, non-disabled people are significantly more likely to have:

• attended a museum or gallery.

	2005/06		2006/07		2007/08
	Disabled (%)	Non disabled (%)	Disabled (%)	Non disabled (%)	Disabled (%)	Non disabled (%)
Arts attendance	24.1	36.3	24.2	35.4	25.1	36.7
Arts participation	18.9	25.6	19.8	23.7	18.7	23.6
Engagement with the arts	69.8	79.0	69.6	78.5	69.6	79.5
Moderate-intensity level sport	37.2	60.4	36.5	60.2	36.0	60.3
Cinema	32.6	57.7	32.0	57.3	30.5	57.1
Libraries	43.8	50.0	41.5	48.0	42.4	46.0
Historic environment sites	63.9	72.3	64.4	71.2	65.4	73.3
Museums and galleries	36.1	44.7	34.9	44.1	36.7	46.1

	2008/09		2009/10
	Disabled (%)	Non disabled (%)	Disabled (%)	Non disabled (%)
Arts attendance
Arts participation
Engagement with the arts	69.2	78.2	68.6	78.3
Moderate-intensity level sport	36.1	59.8	33.6	60.7
Cinema	33.7	55.7	34.5	57.5
Libraries	38.4	42.1	36.8	40.4
Historic environment sites	61.9	71.0	62.2	72.5
Museums and galleries	37.7	47.1	39.2	49.5

 

 

Definition: Disability is defined as having any long-standing illness, disability or infirmity that limits activity in any way. Data covers England. Definitions of participation are as follows:

• Arts attendance and arts participation – attendance/participation at least twice in the past 12 months
• Engagement with the arts – attendance/participation at least once in the past 12 months
• Moderate intensity level sport – participation in at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity level sport at least once in the past 4 weeks
• Historic environment, museums and galleries, cinema and libraries – attendance at least once in the past 12 months.

As of 2008/09, the Taking Part Survey no longer collects information regarding participation in active sports. In addition, arts attendance and arts participation has become a combined measure known as engagement with the arts.

Note: Previously published figures may have changed due to revisions made to the data.

Data Source: Taking Part Survey

Published: 04 November 2010

Baseline and Trends: Baseline year – 2005/06. Figures from 2009/10 show that 89 per cent of buses are accessible to disabled people or are equipped with low floor wheelchair access.

Definition: The accessibility of buses is measured by the percentage of vehicles which meet Public Sector Vehicle Accessibility Requirements (PSVAR) or buses that do not meet PSVAR but which have low floor designs, suitable for wheelchair access.

Note: Previously published figures have been revised following a review of bus statistics. More information can be obtained from the Department for Transport’s bus statistics webpage.

Data Source: Department for Transport’s annual sample survey of PSV bus operators.

Published: 05 January 2011

Baseline and Trends: Baseline year – 2005. Figures from 2010 show that 23 per cent of disabled people experienced difficulties when using transport. This figure has decreased significantly since the baseline. 

Definition: The above figures cover all respondents who report a disability consistent with the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) who say they have had problems in the last 12 months getting to and from transport hubs, getting on or off vehicles, changing modes of transports, travelling by minicab or taxi, booking tickets, ensuring assistance is available, difficulties in crossing roads, using pavements, using pedestrian areas or any other difficulties when travelling.  Data is for individuals in private households aged 16 and over in Great Britain. Data aggregates 8 monthly waves of the survey run in each year except 2007 where data aggregates 6 waves only.

Independent Living Strategy (ILS): This indicator is used to monitor the Independent Living Strategy, which covers England only. Data for England shows that between 2007 (ILS baseline) and 2010, the percentage of disabled people that report having difficulties in using transport decreased from 25 per cent to 23 per cent. These figures have not significantly changed since the baseline.

Note: The method used for identifying disabled respondents has been altered to be in line with the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) definition of disability. As a result, figures from 2005 to 2009 have changed from what was previously published.

Data Source: ONS Opinions Survey

Published: 10 October 2011

Baseline and Trends: Baseline year – 2005. Figures from 2010 show disabled people are significantly less likely to live in households with internet access than non-disabled people.

Between 2005 and 2010, the proportion of people in households with internet access:

• increased from 40 per cent to 58 per cent amongst disabled people
• increased from 60 per cent to 84 per cent amongst non-disabled people

Definition: Disabled respondents are those with a long-standing physical or mental health condition or disability that has a substantial adverse effect on their ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. 

Internet access is determined by the survey respondent answering the question ‘does anyone in the household have access to the internet?’. Data covers Great Britain.

Note: The survey question used to identify disabled respondents has been changed in line with the Disability Discrimination Act definition of disability. As a result, data from 2005 has changed from previously published figures and data consistent with this definition is not available for 2006, 2007 or 2008.

Data Source: British Social Attitudes Survey

Published: 14 February 2011

Baseline and Trends: Baseline year - 2005. Figures from 2010 show that 33 per cent of disabled people experienced difficulties related to their impairment or disability in accessing goods or services. This figure has significantly decreased since the baseline.

Definition: The above figures cover all respondents who report a disability consistent with the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) who say they have had problems in the last 12 months related to their health problem or disability in accessing facilities at a private club, going to the cinema/theatre/concert, going to the library/art galleries/museums, shopping, pubs/restaurants, sporting events, using public telephone, using websites, using a bank or building society, arranging insurance, arranging accommodation in a hotel/guest house, accessing health services/Local Authority services, Central Government services, law enforcement services, or any other leisure, commercial or public good or service.  Data is for individuals in private households aged 16 over in Great Britain.  Data aggregates the 8 waves of the survey run in each year.

Data Source: ONS Opinions Survey

Published: 10 October 2011

Baseline and Trends: Baseline year – 2004/05. Between 2004/05 and 2006/07, the percentage of adults who do not hold savings or bank accounts has

• increased from 10.4% to 11.6% amongst disabled people
• increased from 6.4% to 7.1% amongst non disabled people

The gap between disabled and non disabled people has widened from 4% in 2004/05 to 4.6% in 2006/07.

Definition: Disabled people are defined as respondents who report a limiting long standing illness, impairment or disability. Everyone in this group would meet the definition of disability in the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA); however, these estimates do not reflect the total number of people covered by the DDA as the FRS does not collect this information. Data is for Great Britain. Savings or bank accounts include: current accounts, NSI savings accounts, basic bank accounts, ISAs, and other bank / building society accounts.

Data Source: Family Resources Survey

Published: 01 December 2008

Baseline and Trends: Baseline year – 2004/05. Figures from 2007/08 show that 80 per cent of disabled people requiring adaptations to their home felt their accommodation was suitable for their needs. These figures have not significantly changed since the baseline.

Definition: Disability is identified as any household member having a serious long-standing medical condition or disability. Long-standing is defined as anything which has troubled them for a period of at least 12 months or that is likely to affect them over a period of at least 12 months. Households identified as having a disabled member are then asked if their medical condition/disability means their accommodation requires special adaptations, and if their accommodation is suitable for their needs. Data covers England.

Data Source: Survey of English Housing

Published: 03 December 2009

Baseline and Trends: Baseline year 2005 – Figures from 2008 show that 32.6% of households with a disabled person live in non-decent accommodation, compared to 32.8% of households with no disabled person. This difference is not statistically significant. These figures cannot be compared to 2005 due to a change in the decent homes definition (see below). However, based on the updated definition, there has been a reduction in the proportion of households including a disabled person living in non-decent homes since 2006.

*(from this point, we are using an updated decent homes definition)

Definition: Decent homes figures up to 2006 are based on the original definition, which included the Fitness Standard as one of four criteria for assessing decency (the others being a satisfactory state of repair, modern facilities and services and an adequate level of thermal comfort). In 2006, the statutory Fitness Standard was replaced by the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS). Information was collected through the survey on both Fitness and the HHSRS for 2006 to enable the impact of the change in the definition of decent homes to be assessed.  From 2006, reporting of decent homes uses the updated definition (incorporating the HHSRS rather than the Fitness Standard). Homes posing a Category 1 hazard under the HHSRS are considered non-decent from April 2006. Disability is identified by anyone in the household having a long term illness or disability.  Data covers England.

Data Source: English House Condition Survey 2003-2007, English Housing Survey 2008

Published: 01 March 2011

Baseline and Trends: Baseline year – 2008. Figures from 2008 show that 82 per cent of disabled people aged 65 and over were satisfied with both their home and neighbourhood compared to 87 per cent of non disabled people aged 65 and over.

Definition: Data covers people aged 65 and over who report that they are fairly satisfied or very satisfied to both of the following questions:

1. How satisfied or dissatisfied are you with your local area as a place to live?
2. How satisfied or dissatisfied are you with your home as a place to live?

‘Local Area’ is defined as the area within 15-20 minutes walking distance from your home. Disabled respondents are defined as those respondents who say they have any long standing illness, disability or infirmity (long standing means anything that has troubled you over a period of time or that is likely to affect you over a period of time). Data is for England.

The Place Survey is designed to be carried out by local authorities to collect information about local resident’s perceptions of their local area and the local services they receive. It is a postal (self-completion) survey. Postal surveys, whereby the respondent completes the questionnaire without assistance from a survey interviewer, are much less costly to carry out compared with face-to-face surveys. However, postal surveys can present greater challenges in terms of accurately measuring the views of particularly hard-to-reach groups, such as disabled residents. 

Note: This indicator mirrors National Indicator No.138, which is part of the “New Performance Framework for Local Authorities and Local Authority partnerships: Single Set of National Indicators”.

Independent Living Strategy (ILS): This indicator is used to monitor the Independent Living Strategy.

Data Source: Place Survey

Published: 19 July 2010

Baseline and Trends: Baseline year – 2004/05. Figures from 2009/10 show that disabled people are significantly more likely to be victims of crime than non-disabled people. This gap is largest amongst 16-34 year olds (8 percentage points), and is statistically significant amongst all age groups except for those aged over 65. The only statistically significant change since the baseline is a decrease in the risk of crime for non-disabled people of all age groups except for those aged 65 and over.

Definition: Disabled people are defined as respondents who report a disability or limiting long-term illness; non disabled people are those who do not report a disability or long-term illness, as well as those who report a non-limiting disability or long-term illness. Data covers England and Wales.

Data Source: British Crime Survey

Published: 02 February 2011

Baseline and Trends: Baseline year – 2007/08. Figures from 2009/10 show that young disabled people are less likely than their non-disabled peers to think the Criminal Justice System (CJS) is effective, with the gap being largest amongst 16-34 year olds (11 percentage points). The gap between disabled and non-disabled people who think the CJS is effective is statistically significant for all age groups.

Disabled people are also less likely than non-disabled people to think the CJS is fair. The gap in perceived fairness is highest amongst 16-34 year olds (16 percentage points), and is significant amongst all age bands considered, except for those aged 65 and over. There has been a statistically significant increase since the baseline* in the proportion of non-disabled people aged 35-54 and 65 and over believing that the CJS is fair. There has been no statistically significant increase amongst disabled people.

Both indicators suggest that disabled people are less likely to be confident in the CJS than non-disabled people, and that this gap broadly decreases with age.

Definition: Disabled people are defined as respondents who report a disability or limiting long-term illness; non-disabled people are those who do not report a disability or long-term illness, as well as those who report a non-limiting disability or long-term illness. Data covers England and Wales.

* Note: The smaller sample size for the 2007/08 survey means that statistically significant changes are less likely to be detected. This was due to the introduction of questions mid-year in October 2007.

Data Source: British Crime Survey

Published: 02 February 2011

Baseline and Trends: Baseline year – 2008. The figure from 2010 shows that 23 per cent of disabled people did not believe that they frequently had choice and control over their lives. This figure has not significantly changed since the baseline.

Definition: The above figures cover all respondents who reported a disability consistent with the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) who did not answer “often” or “always” to the following question: “Thinking about your current situation, overall, how often would you say you have choice and control in your life to live your life the way you want to?” Data aggregates 8 monthly waves of the survey run in each year and covers individuals in private households aged 16 and over in Great Britain.

Independent Living Strategy (ILS): This indicator is used to monitor the Independent Living Strategy, which covers England only. Data for England shows that in 2010 23 per cent of disabled people did not believe they frequently had choice and control over their lives. This figure has not significantly changed since the 2008 baseline when 24 per cent of disabled people did not believe they frequently had choice and control over their lives.

Note: The method used for identifying disabled respondents has been altered to be in line with the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) definition of disability. As a result, figures from 2005 to 2009 have changed from what was previously published.

Data Source: ONS Opinions Survey

Published: 10 October 2011

Baseline and Trends: Baseline year – 2007/08. Figures from 2009/10 show that 81 per cent of people with a long-term condition reported that they had sufficient support from local services or organisations to help manage their long-term health condition(s).

Definition: Respondents who were supported to be independent and in control of their condition and answered ‘Yes’ to the following question: “In the last 12 months, have you had enough support from local services or organisations to help you to manage your long-term health condition(s)?”. Respondents who define themselves as having one or more long-term conditions, answered ‘Yes’ to the following question: “Do you have any of the following long-standing conditions? - Deafness or severe hearing impairment; blindness or partially sighted; a long-standing physical condition; a learning disability; a mental health condition; a long-standing illness, such as cancer, HIV, diabetes, chronic heart disease or epilepsy”. Data covers England.

Note: This indicator mirrors National Indicator No. 124, which is part of the “New Performance Framework for Local Authorities and Local Authority partnerships: Single Set of National Indicators”.

Independent Living Strategy (ILS): This indicator is used to monitor the Independent Living Strategy.

Data Sources: Healthcare Commission Primary Care Trusts Patient Survey 2007-08 and GP patient survey (DH/Ipos-MORI) 2009-10

Published: 19 July 2010

Baseline and Trends: Baseline year – 2008. Figures from 2008 show that 30 per cent of the general population believe older people in their local area receive the support they need to live independently at home for as long as they want to.

Definition: The figure above is based on responses to the following question:

• In your opinion, are older people in your local area able to get the services and support they need to continue to live at home for as long as they want to? (This could include help or support from public, private or voluntary services or from family, friends and the wider community).

Disabled respondents are defined as those respondents who say they have any long standing illness, disability or infirmity (long standing means anything that has troubled you over a period of time or that is likely to affect you over a period of time). Data is for England.

The Place Survey is designed to be carried out by local authorities to collect information about local resident’s perceptions of their local area and the local services they receive. It is a postal (self-completion) survey. Postal surveys, whereby the respondent completes the questionnaire without assistance from a survey interviewer, are much less costly to carry out compared with face-to-face surveys. However, postal surveys can present greater challenges in terms of accurately measuring the views of particularly hard-to-reach groups, such as disabled residents. 

Note: This indicator mirrors National Indicator No.139, which is part of the “New Performance Framework for Local Authorities and Local Authority partnerships: Single Set of National Indicators”.

Independent Living Strategy (ILS): This indicator is used to monitor the Independent Living Strategy.

Data Source: Place Survey

Published: 19 July 2010

Baseline and Trends: Baseline year – 2008/09. Figures from 2009/10 show that 22.8 per cent of adults with a learning disability received direct payments and/or a personal budget compared to 20.2 per cent of adults with a physical disability and 5.1 per cent of adults with a mental health condition. These figures cannot be compared to 2008/09 as the earlier figures did not include those in receipt of personal budgets (see Notes below).

Definition: The 2009/10 figures reflect the proportion of clients aged 18-64 receiving social care through direct payments and/or personal budgets as a percentage of the total number of clients receiving community based services in that client group in the year to 31st March. A client may appear in only one primary client type. Primary client types are based on professional decisions centred on the client’s circumstances, and are not solely an administrative categorisation for the purposes of allocation to a particular specialist team. In some Councils with Adult Social Services Responsibilities (CASSRs), each client has an overarching client classification, but may receive a different classification for a specific assessment. Direct payments and individual budgets are monetary payments made to individuals who have been assessed as needing services, in lieu of social service provisions. Data covers England. Further information on national indicator definitions are available from: http://www.audit-commission.gov.uk/localgov/audit/nis/Pages/niguidancesearch.aspx

Notes: In 2009/10 coverage was expanded to include adults in receipt of individual budgets as well as direct payments. As such figures from 2009/10 cannot be compared to 2008/09, which covered those in receipt of direct payments only.

This indicator mirrors National Indicator No. 130, which is part of the “New Performance Framework for Local Authorities and Local Authority partnerships: Single Set of National Indicators”. For more information please refer to: http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/localgovernment/nationalindicator

Independent Living Strategy (ILS): This indicator is also used to monitor the Independent Living Strategy, for which the baseline is 2008/09.

Data Source: NHS Information Centre

Published: 10 October 2011

Baseline and Trends: Baseline year – 2008/09. Figures from 2009/10 show that 506 adults with a physical disability per 100,000 of the population were supported to live independently through social services compared to 349 adults with a learning disability per 100,000 of the population and 548 adults with a mental health condition per 100,000 of the population.

Definition: The figures above reflect the number of adults aged 18-64 per 100,000 population that are assisted directly through social services assessed/care planned, funded support to live independently, plus those supported through organisations that receive social services grant funded services. A client may appear in only one primary client type. Primary client types are based on professional decisions centred on the client’s circumstances, and are not solely an administrative categorisation for the purposes of allocation to a particular specialist team. In some Councils with Adult

Social Services Responsibilities (CASSRs), each client has an overarching client classification, but may receive a different classification for a specific assessment. However, there is the potential for double counting between assessed services and grant funded services but including this latter group gives a broader picture of the overall level of services which are supporting people to live independently. The latest available estimate of double counting between council provided services and grant funded services is 10%.  There is also the potential for double counting between grant funded organisations but there is no estimate available for this.  Data covers England. Further information on national indicator definitions are available from: http://www.audit-commission.gov.uk/localgov/audit/nis/Pages/niguidancesearch.aspx

This indicator mirrors National Indicator No. 136, which is part of the “New Performance Framework for Local Authorities and Local Authority partnerships: Single Set of National Indicators”. For more information please refer to: http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/localgovernment/nationalindicator

Independent Living Strategy (ILS): This indicator is also used to monitor the Independent Living Strategy, for which the baseline is 2008/09.

Data Source: NHS Information Centre

Published: 10 October 2011