48 per cent of people with a disability used some form of aid in
1998, according to a new report released today by the Australian
Institute of Health and Welfare.
Disability: the Use of Aids and the Role of the
Environment is the first national report on the use of aids
and equipment by people with disabilities and the status of other
environmental factors important to people with disabilities.
Environmental factors described in the report include use of
aids and equipment, access to public transport, support
arrangements in educational and workplace settings, assistance with
daily activities, and home modifications.
AIHW spokesperson Samantha Bricknell said that aids and
equipment had considerable importance for many people with
disabilities because they 'had the potential to improve lives by
enabling greater independence and less reliance on personal
assistance'.
'Environmental factors are important because they can either
greatly help or greatly hinder individuals' participation in the
economic and social world', Dr Bricknell said.
According to the report, people with a physical or hearing
disability were more likely to be users of aids compared with
people with an intellectual, psychiatric, vision or speech
disability.
The average number of aids used by a person with a disability
increased with severity of core activity restriction (core
activities relate to self-care, mobility and/or communication). The
variation was from an average of 1.2 aids for people with a mild
core activity restriction to 3.5 aids for people with a profound
core activity restriction.
Medical aids were the most frequently used for people aged 15-64
years, followed by mobility aids. Children under 15 years mostly
used medical, self-care and communication aids.
Dr Bricknell said that, of the environmental factors, the
educational environment may be of particular importance for younger
people with disabilities.
'Over 70% of school-aged children with severe, moderate or mild
core activity restrictions attended ordinary classes in 1998. For
children with a profound core activity restriction (the highest
level of restriction) the figure was 49%.'
'But our data also show that students with a disability
attending primary or secondary school were more likely to be
receiving support arrangements if in a special class or special
school.'
Access to public transport was available to over 80% of people
with a disability. However, approximately 21 per cent of people
with a core activity restriction aged 5 to 64, and 26% aged over
65, could not use or only used some forms of public transport.
Home modifications varied with age of the person with a
disability. Ramps and other structural changes were more common for
people under 30 years, and handgrab rails more common for the
over-30s. Toilet, laundry and bath modifications were equally
important to all age groups.
21 August 2003
Further information: Dr Samantha Bricknell,
AIHW, tel. 02 6244 1138
Media copies of the report: Publications Officer,
AIHW, tel. 02 6244 1032
Availability: Check the AIHW
Publications Catalogue for details.