6 items
The six-item UN standard for identifying disability in surveys. Asks about functional difficulty in six core domains rather than asking respondents to self-identify as disabled, which is why it works cross-culturally.
Special-category data
Some items here collect special-category data under GDPR Art. 9 (such as racial or ethnic origin, or health data). Collecting them requires an explicit lawful basis and consent text that covers them — check your ethics approval before use.
Source
Washington Group on Disability Statistics — Short Set on Functioning (WG-SS). Endorsed by the UN Statistical Commission and used in national censuses worldwide.
Usage
Standard cut-off: a respondent is considered to have a disability if at least one of the six domains is coded 'a lot of difficulty' or 'cannot do at all'. Report the cut-off you use — narrower and broader thresholds both appear in the literature.
License: Public domain. Free to use; the Washington Group asks that the wording is not altered.
Do you have difficulty seeing, even if wearing glasses?
No – no difficulty · Yes – some difficulty · Yes – a lot of difficulty · Cannot do at all · Prefer not to say
Do you have difficulty hearing, even if using a hearing aid?
No – no difficulty · Yes – some difficulty · Yes – a lot of difficulty · Cannot do at all · Prefer not to say
Do you have difficulty walking or climbing steps?
No – no difficulty · Yes – some difficulty · Yes – a lot of difficulty · Cannot do at all · Prefer not to say
Do you have difficulty remembering or concentrating?
No – no difficulty · Yes – some difficulty · Yes – a lot of difficulty · Cannot do at all · Prefer not to say
Do you have difficulty with self-care, such as washing all over or dressing?
No – no difficulty · Yes – some difficulty · Yes – a lot of difficulty · Cannot do at all · Prefer not to say
Using your usual language, do you have difficulty communicating, for example understanding or being understood?
No – no difficulty · Yes – some difficulty · Yes – a lot of difficulty · Cannot do at all · Prefer not to say
Use this module in your own ESM/EMA study — drop it into a survey within SMAAT.