The disability survey
Introduction | Further details | Sensory capability | Cognitive capability | Motor capability
The questions within the Disability Follow-up Survey can be used to estimate the number of people that would be unable to perform a certain task that is required to use a product, and would therefore be excluded.
The 300 survey questions were combined to form ability levels that could measure quality of life impairment, often using multiple questions to create each level. However, the manner in which the questions were combined can make the levels difficult to interpret for product interaction.
Further research will create more useful scales from the original survey questions, and specifically collect additional capability data for the purpose of calculating exclusion. Until then, the Disability Follow-up Survey remains the best source of coherent data for estimating design exclusion.
Survey questions
"Can you turn a tap or control knob
... with your right hand?
... with your left hand?"
"Can you pick up a small object like a safety pin
... with your right hand?
... with your left hand?"
"Can you tie a bow in laces or string without difficulty?"
Dexterity ability levels
| D10 | Can turn a tap or control knob with one hand but not with the other. Can squeeze water from a sponge with one hand but not the other |
| D11 | Can pick up a small object such as a safety pin with one hand but not with the other. Can pick up and carry a pint of milk with one hand but not the other. Has difficulty tying a bow in laces or strings |
The 300 questions from the Disability Follow-up Survey were combined to form ability levels that could measure quality of life impairment

