Table of contents:
The Washington Group Short Set of Questions
The WG-SS questions ask whether people have difficulty completing basic universal activities due to a health problem in the six core functional domains of walking, seeing, hearing, cognition, self-care and communication. The questions have been designed to identify those who are at greater risk than the general population of experiencing restrictions in participation. Measurements intended to identify this “at risk” population who represent the most basic end on the spectrum of activities.
The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) provides a detailed classification of health and health-related domains. However, for the purpose of disability identification in both a census and a standard household survey, it is necessary to focus on a few of the most important core domains that can be captured with a single question. As explained in Box 5 below, the WG has also developed a more extensive set of questions where space and time permit.
Box 5. The WG-SS on Functioning
The next set of questions ask about difficulties you may have doing certain activities because of a health problem.
1. Do you have difficulty seeing, even if wearing glasses?
2. Do you have difficulty hearing, even if using a hearing aid?
3. Do you have difficulty walking or climbing steps?
4. Do you have difficulty remembering or concentrating?
5. Do you have difficulty with self-care such as washing all over or dressing?
6. Using your usual language, do you have difficulty communicating, for example understanding or being understood?
Response categories for all questions:
1. No, no difficulty
2. Yes, some difficulty
3. Yes, a lot of difficulty
4. Cannot do at all
The six functional domains of communicating, self-care, cognition (remembering and concentrating), hearing, seeing and mobility (walking or climbing stairs addressed by the WG-SS are based on two criteria: First, they cover most functional limitations that people might have; second, they are functional domains that can be adequately captured with a single question.
Box 6. Improving prevalence rates
It is important not to delete any of the six functional core domains, but rather add questions to yield accurate information and better reflect the prevalence of persons with disabilities in the country.