New ESTAT disability database and thematic section on disability
When trying to build a more inclusive and fair Europe, understanding the reality of persons with disabilities is paramount. Data collection is one method of increasing this understanding and gaining knowledge on the different areas of the personal, public,and political life of persons with disabilities.
Eurostat (ESTAT) collects and standardises the statistical data to be provided to EU institutions. By gathering and processing this data, ESTAT makes it easier to provide meaningful statistical comparisons between Member States.
Within Eurostat’s general database there is now a disability database dedicated to the collection of statistical data on the reality for persons with disabilities within different Member States. The database contains information on various disability-related aspects of life. From income and living conditions to access to health and care services, from leisure and social participation to access to information and communication technologies, and more.
Complimenting this new database, is Eurostat’s new thematic section on disability. The section gathers data, methodology, publications and information on related statistical legislation. Again, encompassing a myriad of topics from income and living conditions, social protection, and access to the labour market to health and care services, and much more.
It is worth noting that a lot of the data gathered is mainly from population or household sample surveys. As a result, this excludes people living in collective households and institutions, which is the case for many persons with disabilities who live in nursing or retirement homes, for example.
Both platforms allow for a comparison of the situation of persons with disabilities within different Member States. This data is crucial in seeing which Member States provide better living conditions for persons with disabilities and can be used to analyse the results and consequences of different policies and practices.