CAN WE COUNT THEM? SCOPING DATA SOURCES ON
DISABLED CHILDREN AND THEIR HOUSEHOLDS
Consultations with Stakeholders
The limitations of national data on disabled children and their families are widely recognised
(Gordon et al. 2000; Office for National Statistics (ONS) 2004; Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit
(PMSU) 2005).
There are substantial existing administrative, census, and survey data on childhood disability that
provide valuable insights into the lives and circumstances of disabled children and those closest
to them. There is, however, an absence of reliable current national quantitative data on
prevalence, trends and the socio-demographic characteristics of disabled children and their
households. As a consequence, our understanding of this important group within the population
is limited in fundamental ways.
Our research team at the University of Warwick is currently carrying out a study, funded by the
Economic and Social Research Council, to scope existing quantitative national and regional data
sources and to consider their strengths and limitations in order to inform the future development
of more robust data. Because we recognise that definitions of disabled children vary, at this point
in the study we are interested in scoping data sources that include information on children with a
wide range of conditions, impairments and learning disabilities.
As part of this study we are consulting with a wide range of stakeholders about their experiences
and opinions regarding data sources on disabled children and their households. We will only
report stakeholders views and opinions anonymously and confidentiality about sources of opinion
will be maintained.
If you have experiences of or views on these issues, please contribute to the consultation
by answering the questions listed on the following page.
Many thanks,
Dr Janet Read, Professor Nick Spencer and Clare Blackburn
School of Health and Social Studies
University of Warwick
Coventry, CV4 7AL
Email: j.m.read@warwick.ac.uk
SCHOOL OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL STUDIES
The University of Warwick
Coventry CV4 7AL United Kingdom
Tel: (024) 7652 4140
Fax: (024) 7652 4415
Email: j.m.read@warwick.ac.uk
www.warwick.ac.uk
CAN WE COUNT THEM? SCOPING DATA SOURCES ON DISABLED CHILDREN AND
THEIR HOUSEHOLDS
Consultations with Stakeholders
Name:
Organisation:
Position/Job title:
Telephone number:
Email address:
I understand that by returning this proforma I am giving consent to participation in
the project and I understand that the information I give will reported anonymously.
Please add your comments below each question taking as much space as you
need. We are interested in gaining as much as possible from your experience.
1. Which, if any, sources of national, regional and local data do you use on disabled
children and their households (e.g. Census data, General Household Survey data,
SEN Regional Partnership data, Looked After Children data, Hospital Episodes
Statistics)?
2. For what purposes do you use these data on disabled children and their
households?
3. For each of the data sources you have identified, please tell us what you regard as
their strengths and weaknesses as sources of information on disabled children and
their households.
4. How useful are these data sources for the purposes for which you need this
information?
5. Please tell us how easy you find it to use these data sources: comment on barriers
to use, as well as user friendly features.
6. Are there data sources you know of and would like to use but are not able to?
Please explain why this is the case.
www.warwick.ac.uk
7. What is the most useful data currently available on disabled children and their
households? Please give your reasons.
8. What data on disabled children and their households do you think is currently
needed but not available?
9. For what purposes will data on disabled children and their households be needed
in future and how could this most usefully be generated?
10. Please make other observations or comments you think are important about
current and future data collection on disabled children and their households.
Thank you for your contribution. Please return to by email or post to:
Dr Janet Read
School of Health and Social Studies
University of Warwick
Coventry, CV4 7AL
Email: j.m.read@warwick.ac.uk
www.warwick.ac.uk