What the National Disability Survey tells us about planning for accessibility

2. What the National Disability Survey tells us about planning for accessibility

3. The National Disability Survey • Census 2006 showed about 9.3% of population had a disability • National Disability Survey – follow-up sample of 14,500 people with disabilities; about 1,500 “no disability” • Detailed questions, other aspects of disability such as pain and breathing difficulties • Detailed interviews, and wider definition of disability brought estimate of disability prevalence up to as much as 1 in 5 of population • Results useful in looking at nature and prevalence of needs

4. Headline findings • About a third of people with a disability are aged 65 plus, and almost a quarter are aged 75 plus • Multiple impairment is common • Severity varies across different forms • Mobility/dexterity has most in “can’t do at all” category • Mobility/dexterity and pain most prevalent kinds of impairment affecting 3-8% of the population

5. Prevalence of each type of disability

6. People with vision impairments • About 51,000 have impaired vision • About 1.2% of the population • 21,000 “a lot of difficulty”, 2,300 cannot see at all • Associated with ageing • What to do • Plan for large print, especially for elderly; phone/audio • Plan for building users with low or no vision • Make sure your website is accessible • NDA leaflet – demand for 50 Braille copies

7. People with hearing difficulties • About 58,000 with hearing impairments • About 1.4% of population • 21,000 “ a lot of difficulty”, 1,800 can’t hear • About 95% of onset is in adulthood, at older ages What to do • Facilitate lip-reading • Provide loop systems for venues, counter services • Written as well as oral notices, communications • Allow appointments to be made by text or e-mail • Irish Sign Language interpretation on request

8. People with difficulty in speaking • About 35,000 people, about 0.8% of population • Equal numbers of children, working-age, older • About half say they find it very hard to communicate with people providing everyday services What to do • Ask again if you haven’t understood • Irish Sign Language interpreter on request

9. People with mobility impairments • 160,000 have walking difficulties • 83,000 use walking aids • 31,000 use wheelchairs • 160,000 can’t walk for 15 minutes • What to do • allow people do their business sitting down • drop-off points for people who can’t walk far • level access or ramps; handrails • wide doors and circulation, free of clutter • low-height desks, controls • accessible WCs

10. People with impaired dexterity • About 80,000, nearly 2% of the population, have problems using hands or fingers • About half of these are aged over 65 • About 31,000 have a lot of difficulty and about 14,000 can’t do at all • Practical difficulties in everyday activities like cooking, dressing, writing, opening doors, turning taps What to do • Automatic doors • Taps operated by elbow • Services and supports

11. People who have difficulty in remembering and concentrating • 113,000 people, about 2.7% of population • About 55,000 have moderate difficulty • Difficulties include: • remembering important things • concentrating for ten minutes • performing normal daily activities What to do • provide information that is simple and easy to follow • give written information to keep • give reminders

12. People with intellectual disabilities • About 50,000 with intellectual disabilities, 1.2% of population • 14,000 with mild intellectual disability • 24,000 moderate intellectual disability • 12,000 severe intellectual disability • Research designs which are confined to private households may miss those who are living in institutional care (c. 4,000). Ensuring there is informed consent is a key issue. In terms of accessibility, provide easy to read and easy to understand information and use simple instructions and illustrations. • What to do • provide easy to read, easy to understand information • use simple directions, picture signs

13. People with emotional, psychological and mental health difficulties • Almost 111,000 people, about 2.6% of population • About 1 in 4 of us has an episode at some stage of our life • About 75,000 are of working age • Depression is the most common • About 31,000 have depression • About 14,000 have anxiety disorders • About 5,000 have schizophrenia • About 3,000 have bipolar disorder • What to do • Recognise this is likely to be an issue for your workforce and your customers

14. People with pain: • About 153,000 people experience chronic pain • About 3.6% of population • Fairly common among those of working age • About 78,000 experience a lot of or extreme difficulties in performing normal, everyday activities • What to do • provide chairs and comfortable waiting areas • it may help you to prioritise queuing systems

15. People with breathing difficulties: • About 72,000 people, about 1.7% of the population • Vulnerability to smoke • May create problems in walking • About 27,000 experience serious or extreme difficulties in performing normal, everyday activities • What to do • Pay attention to air quality • Consider safe evacuation for people who may be overcome early by smoke • Consider drop-off points and access to car parking

16. More information : http://www.cso.ie/releasespublications/nationaldisabilitysurvey06first.htm Further report upcoming on participation, care arrangements, employment, transport, environmental factors