To be peed off that the Census doesn’t ask about disability?

[RickiTarr]

It asks about “health conditions” but I don’t regard myself as ill, just disabled.

Anyone else?

I haven't filled it in yet (will tonight!) But yes that's odd, I'd have assumed they'd want that sort of information. Maybe they're assuming that NHS records give them enough data as it is?

I included mine in the “long term health conditions or problems” (can’t remember exact wording).

I dont know if a physical health condition means you have to feel ill with it. The guidance gives examples like being deaf.

Its not the clearest wording though.

@RickiTarr

It asks about “health conditions” but I don’t regard myself as ill, just disabled.

Anyone else?

That comes under the follow up questions doesn't it? But yes, odd that it doesn't bask directly.

Yes,I noticed that and thought it was a bit odd. Another example of disabled people being overlooked,unfortunately. I am disabled but it is as a result of rheumatoid arthritis.

How is a disability not a health condition or problem? The quibbling over the wording of every question is frankly ridiculous.

It is truly incredible - it asks about "gender identity" but not disability!!!!

www.ons.gov.uk/census/censustransformationprogramme/healthandunpaidcarequestiondevelopmentforcensus2021#annex-1-census-commitments-made-on-the-topics-of-health-and-unpaid-care

Yes! My son is autistic but not ill. One of many examples of how you can be disabled and not have a health condition

I thought the same! DS2 has a disability, but his is caused by a long term health condition so was covered under that question

It does ask about disability though doesn't use that exact term. My children are autistic and I ticked the box that said they had a physical or mental health condition. It did say if you clicked the link for more information to include disabilities like sensory, neurodevelopmental and learning disabilities.

I agree it’s phrased horribly.

Too much pandering to the woke squad for things like gender identity and not enough recognition that a significant proportion of the population live with a long term disability that they don’t necessarily class as an ‘illness’

What would be the answer if I was born partially sighted or was an amputee? I wouldn’t class either as an ‘illness’, the like that needs medication etc

@jellybellybanana

How is a disability not a health condition or problem? The quibbling over the wording of every question is frankly ridiculous.

Well I have dyspraxia. I'm not unwell, I just have different abilities in some areas, and occasionally different access requirements.

I'm never "unwell" with dyspraxia - in fact, I'm better than some non-dyspraxics at some things, because I have therapy and practice to help, whereas others coast on their low natural abilities.

I also have migraines. I didn't when I took the survey but I do now. It's a disability with spells of unwellness.

I didn't answer the questions at all because I skimmed past based on how it was phrased.

(I put a pretty facetious answer to "describe your job", because part of my job includes developing meaningful surveys, and I don't think that receiving sixty million free text answers will provide them with a meaningful data set on that.)

I hope you did all put your disabilities down?

So glad it’s not just me.

It doesn't say "illness" though, it says a physical or mental health condition. Being partially sighted or an amputee would be a physical condition

There is even a link you can click to explain it to you for the hard of understanding.

What would be the answer if I was born partially sighted or was an amputee? I wouldn’t class either as an ‘illness’, the like that needs medication etc

Thats' covered in the question. It's "Do you have any physical or mental health conditions OR illnesses lasting or expected to last 12 months or more?"
It doesn't say the condition is an illness. If you were partially sighted that would obviously be a condition.

@MildredPuppy

I hope you did all put your disabilities down?

They don’t ask for them. Not at all.

All they want to know is:

1. Whether you have a long term (12 month plus) physical or mental health condition.

2. How you rate your health on a five point scale fromVery good to very bad (or words to that effect) and whether

3. Whether it stops you from undertaking normal everyday tasks “a lot”, “a little” or not at all.

They don’t ask what the health conditions are and the word “disability” isn’t mentioned.

That’s from memory. I should have screen shot. Hopefully others will correct any mistakes I’ve made in summarising.

I couldn't quite work out how to let it know that I am disabled physical and in poor health AND working... at least not specifically using the term 'disabled'... and I went back to check in case id missed something.

Thats' covered in the question. It's "Do you have any physical or mental health conditions OR illnesses lasting or expected to last 12 months or more?"
It doesn't say the condition is an illness. If you were partially sighted that would obviously be a condition.

Okay, you can look at it that way but there is at least one of my disabilities that I don’t consider a “health condition” and lots of people don’t consider it a “health condition”.

Besides they are just lumping it all in together like disabled and long term sick are the same thing. They are not.

The word disability should have figured in there somewhere.

Oh its such a shame. It looks like the census is going to under-record things due to poor wording.
The guidance on the question helps people know what is meant by phyisical health condition lasting more than 12 months. I know a lot of people with autism were confused what to do as well.

@DottyWott @thecatsthecats @Youngatheart00 @MsFogi

Exactly! Everything you’ve all said.

I’m off to find the best way to feedback.

@WiddlinDiddlin

I couldn't quite work out how to let it know that I am disabled physical and in poor health AND working... at least not specifically using the term 'disabled'... and I went back to check in case id missed something.

Yes! I toggled back and forth so much, looking for it that I got dizzy.

Long term physical or mental heath problem is a disability.

I'm autistic, not ill and I have difficulty with forms but it was an easy form.
You are nit picking

I have people in my household with autism, dyslexia and if you tried telling them it was “a long term health condition” they wouldn’t be at all happy