Use of Statistics From National Data Sources to Inform Rehabilitation Program Planning, Evaluation, and Advocacy

Abstract

Data on people with disabilities can be used to confirm service needs and to evaluate the resulting impact of services. Disability statistics from surveys and administrative records can play a meaningful role in such efforts. In this article, the authors describe the array of available data and statistics and their potential uses in rehabilitation service planning and evaluation. They discuss the 2000 Decennial Census Long Form, the American Community Survey, the National Health Information Survey, the National Health Information Survey on Disability, the Current Population Survey Annual Demographics Survey, the Survey of Income and Program Participation, and the Health and Retirement Survey, administrative records such as the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) 911 and the Social Security Administration (SSA) Title 2 and Title 16 records, and matched data such as linked RSA and SSA records. They also provide examples of applications of these data sets to rehabilitation service planning and evaluation, along with recommendations for rehabilitation education, practice, and research.