Article

Disability is a multi-dimensional phenomenon arising out of an
interaction between the individual's health status and his environment:
disability data must reflect this bio-psychosocial model.
WHO's International
Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) provides the framework
for documenting the interaction between health status and environmental features.
MHADIE, a 3-year project supported by a EC 6th Framework Programme Grant, aimed
at demonstrating the feasibility and utility of the ICF model in the measurement
and description of disability.
The ICF model was used as the structure
for analysing existing population health surveys and education statistics data.
ICF-based tools were used to describe disability in selected health conditions.
RESULTS: MHADIE researchers showed that the ICF model is adequate for describing
and measuring patterns of disability in clinical samples from different countries
cross-sectionally and over time as well as feasible and useful in educational
sectors. CONCLUSIONS: Valid and reliable information are essential to design,
implement or evaluate policies to combat discrimination, promote integration and
enhance opportunities. Results made it possible to produce a definition of
disability as well as policy recommendations concerning how, in Europe and
internationally, the existing sources of data can be harmonized with the ICF model.

Langue : ANGLAIS