NOD's Harris Surveys
For decades, NOD’s Harris Surveys have been an authoritative resource on the status of people with disabilities in America. Since the 1980’s, NOD surveys have tracked numerous quality of life indicators for the disability community. Thesurveys help to quantify the challenges faced by the disability community, providing statistical data that can be used to understand specific issues facing people with disabilities, and to influence the decisions of policymakers. The surveys receive wide coverage in the press, and results are frequently cited by policymakers, and by the disability community.
Background
The NOD-Harris Survey of Americans with Disabilities was started in 1986, and is the most comprehensive survey of its kind. It examines ten key quality of life indicators and measures the gaps in responses between individuals with and without disabilities. These indicators include employment, income, education, healthcare, access to transportation, entertainment, socializing, religious and political participation, and life satisfaction. In 2004, the survey was expanded to include questions regarding other finance and asset issues, and assistive technology.
The Kessler Foundation has now joined with NOD to track the developments in the disability community and to look deeper into the issue of unemployment and underemployment for persons with disabilities. The 2010 NOD-Kessler Survey tracks the changing needs and success of people with disabilities as they enter the workforce.
Strategy
The most recent survey looked only at non-institutionalized individuals with disabilities. A person was included in the sample of people with disabilities if he or she:
- Had a disability or health problem that prevents him or her from participating fully in work, school, or other activities.
- Reported having a physical disability; a seeing, hearing or speech impairment; an emotional or mental disability; or a learning disability.
- Considered himself or herself to have a disability or said that other people would consider him or her to be a person with a disability.
Reports
NOD-Kessler Survey, 2010
In 2010, NOD and Kessler Foundation commissioned Harris Interacitve to conduct two surveys: the Survey of Americans with Disabilities, and the Survey on Employment of People with Disabilities. Learn more and view the reports.
NOD-Harris Surveys, 1986-2004
From 1986 to 2004, NOD has collaborated with the Harris Poll to gather data on a variety of issues facing people with disabilities, the results of which are widely used by policymakers and by the disability community. Learn more and view the reports.
