Adding or Omitting Domains

A number of countries may consider identifying certain conditions such as albinism or autism. While the WG-SS will identify such conditions as they contribute to a person having a disability (e.g., people with albinism usually have seeing difficulties), some countries may want to specifically identify people who have these conditions for purposes of policymaking. In this case, questions to identify such conditions should follow the WG-SS questions, in order not to affect the mindset with which respondents answer the WG-SS. 

If countries want to ask about domains that go beyond the WG-SS, it is recommended to use the WG-ES-F, which was designed to include additional domains that are pertinent, such as upper body movement particularly the use of arms and hands, in addition to other domains.

Furthermore, Arab policy makers have expressed concern about not including the upper body functions in national estimates.  The upper body functioning domain is important in developing countries where work, car accidents and conflict, among others, are prevalent and insurance is scarce.  Turkey, for example, included upper body functioning within the short questions. The International Labour Organization (ILO) is also considering adopting the WG-SS with the upper body and depression or anxiety domains. Upper body functions include some of the characteristics of self-care but are also more inclusive of other characteristics that are considered more prevalent in Arab region. 

Therefore, it would be wise to maintain all six domains including “self-care” and add extend the questions to “include “arms” and “hand” functioning in order to better reflect the prevalence of persons with disabilities and explain “self-care” in an acceptable context.

Box 17. Sequence of domains