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?

TBH - any form that gathers information about dyslexia and PMLD under the same category is going to be utterly meaningless at a service planning level

Yes but DH put that he had a health condition. I queried why, and it was because he needs a hearing aid. By the same token I should have put down that I need glasses, but never even thought to do so. Hence my querying the utility of the information given.

@MsFogi

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

Someone had to get in a nice little trans bash didn't they?

It does ask about disability, long term health conditions include that. Perhaps it should have been clearer, agreed.

My DC has an spld - serious enough that they receive significant support at school. I had previously read the guidance so I knew i could include it for them. (in fact we sat and did their bit together as their spld meant they may not have been able to accurately even complete the census). But then we were really stuck on the impact to day to day activities. My DC is perfectly capable of eg getting dressed, making breakfast, watching youtube, but needs significant support at school, and hasnt yet ever taken public transport on their own. They can use technology to help - and it does. So in the end we both agreed that Impacted - a Little would be the best answer, but it felt like a compromise answer.

I tried to feedback - on this and on the sex/gender questions, but was told I couldnt as the census had been submitted. I will find another way. (I am a data manager and quite bothered by some of this - it feels as if the census has been oversimplified?).

(I am a data manager and quite bothered by some of this - it feels as if the census has been oversimplified?).

It does indeed. If you have any pointers as to what buzzwords to include in our protests, please do say.

You're right. The census should gather information about peoples' disabilities that require more local planning. If you're in a wheelchair - that's not necessarily due to a health issue... but ramps in your local community sure would help

Even more pissed off that it asks if your conditions or illness are expected to last 12 months or more.

How do they expect someone with a terminal prognosis and just a short time to live answer that one?

@DGRossetti It does get very wearing.

@PurpleWh1teGreen

Even more pissed off that it asks if your conditions or illness are expected to last 12 months or more.

How do they expect someone with a terminal prognosis and just a short time to live answer that one?

Oh gosh I hadn’t even spotted that aspect. That is insensitive.

@scentedgeranium

Hadn't thought, but yes it absolutely should have asked about disability if it asked about gender. Mean isn't the whole point about the census that it helps plan future services? Bonkers.

So the only conclusion is there's no future services planned for the disabled.

No change there then.

@DailyCandy

You're right. The census should gather information about peoples' disabilities that require more local planning. If you're in a wheelchair - that's not necessarily due to a health issue... but ramps in your local community sure would help

Alternatively, if you are in a wheelchair. Fuck off.

I agree with you, RickiTarr. It would have been easy to include a separate question about disability. PPs on this thread are making it clearer than the people paid to write census questions!

Someone had to get in a nice little trans bash didn't they?

There was no 'trans bash' in their comment at all.

RickiTarr I have complained.

Ironically, I used to commission services for people with long term health conditions and the info would have been good to have.

Ditto data about disabilities - more information would inform planning and help to develop services that actually help people. Or at least it would if anyone ever invested in it, but that's a whole other story.

It makes no difference whether your disability is caused by a long term illness or condition, or by some other reason. They just want to know if whatever it is prevents or restricts you from doing anything in everyday life.

But if they are using it to ascertain what changes to services are needed, surely they should / would need to know about disabilities so they know what adaptations might be needed. Rather than just who’s going to be on sick pay or to build a picture of the health of the nation!

The census is worded exactly as it should be.

I deal with discrimination issues on a daily basis as a lawyer and I can assure you that many people who do not consider themselves to be disabled (because they think they need to be “registered as disabled” or have a blue badge) are, in fact, legally disabled. The way the question is worded means that actual true legal disability is captured.

Section 6 of the Equality Act shows the legal definition.

www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/section/6

I thought the question was asked in that way because there are a lot of people with a long term physical or mental condition who do not class themselves as disabled but who would meet the legal definition.

By example, I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety about 25 years ago. I’ve suffered from recurring periods ever since, managed in my own way without a doctor or medication. I wouldn’t tick “yes” to question asking me if I was disabled. However, I accept I probably do meet the legal definition and I might tick yes if asked about long-term conditions.

I’m always in a quandary with what to do with questions when phrased as disability

I chronic myeloid leukaemia, and so could describe myself as disabled. But that would feel wrong, because aside from the incurable cancer I’m fitter than I’ve been for most of my adult life and there are no limits on my activities,

So I prefer to describe health conditions

But also realise it’s absolutely the other way round for others

[quote MrsPinkCock]The census is worded exactly as it should be.

I deal with discrimination issues on a daily basis as a lawyer and I can assure you that many people who do not consider themselves to be disabled (because they think they need to be “registered as disabled” or have a blue badge) are, in fact, legally disabled. The way the question is worded means that actual true legal disability is captured.

Section 6 of the Equality Act shows the legal definition.

www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/section/6[/quote]
I will ask him to check, but I am fairly sure my high functioning adult autistic DS, who lives elsewhere, will have answered a firm “no” to “health issues”.

It’s just not how he sees himself. A lot of autistic people don’t see see themselves that way. So that’s an example demographic that will have been missed by the census. Deaf community similarly.

Speaking to the populace in the terms they use about themselves is as important as matching census data to legal definitions.

Hence my reservations about “data harmonisation“ trumping self-declaration.

In any case, they could just add a simple “Do you consider yourself to have a disability?” question, which would add a lot of information and detract from nothing.

I would also aver that it would confirm the existence of a population who consider themselves disabled but do not consider themselves to have a health condition.

@WithTeaTree

I thought the question was asked in that way because there are a lot of people with a long term physical or mental condition who do not class themselves as disabled but who would meet the legal definition.

By example, I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety about 25 years ago. I’ve suffered from recurring periods ever since, managed in my own way without a doctor or medication. I wouldn’t tick “yes” to question asking me if I was disabled. However, I accept I probably do meet the legal definition and I might tick yes if asked about long-term conditions.

Yes I do accept that.

I think they need to ask it both ways, if only to make sure to catch everyone.

@iVampire

I’m always in a quandary with what to do with questions when phrased as disability

I chronic myeloid leukaemia, and so could describe myself as disabled. But that would feel wrong, because aside from the incurable cancer I’m fitter than I’ve been for most of my adult life and there are no limits on my activities,

So I prefer to describe health conditions

But also realise it’s absolutely the other way round for others

Yes slices two ways, doesn’t it?

I wish you a good treatment, with lots of long remissions.

Surely you can just mark it down as a long term health condition?

Surely rheumatoid arthritis is actually a health condition?

Autism is a health condition. It's a diagnosis. You are given a diagnosis. Often by a doctor, a Paed or camhs.

How is dispraxia not a health condition?