Codes and Frequencies
Description
DISEEP indicates whether the respondent was blind or had serious difficulty seeing even when wearing glasses. Please see Comparability and Universe tabs for information on changes in wording and universe between samples.
In 1994 and 1995, DISEEP is part of the Disability Supplement (NHIS-D) that collects information on disability. NHIS-D included two household interviews: in Phase I all members of sample families were screened for any indication of disability; in Phase II persons with any indication of disability were followed-up for additional information. Phase I includes sensory, communication, and mobility problems; health conditions; activities of daily living and independent activities of daily living; functional limitations; mental health; services and benefits; special health needs of children; early child development; education; relationship to respondent; and perceived disability. Phase II includes four Disability Followback Survey (DFS) questionnaires: one for children, one for adults, one for elderly persons (69 years of age and over) without any indication of disability (also called the Supplement on Aging or SOA; only in 1994), and one for persons with a history of polio.
Comparability
Changes in universe affect comparability between samples. Please refer to the Universe Tab for more information.
In 1994 and 1995, the universe included all persons in the NHIS-D Phase I sample. The household respondent reported if the person has serious difficulty seeing, even when wearing glasses or contact lenses. A subsequent question (BLIND) identifies persons with serious difficulty seeing who are legally blind.
In 2008, this question was asked of all persons ages 1 and older whose families received a split-ballot test of disability questions in Quarter 4. There are six disability questions in the test file that comprised one component of a larger testing effort to develop and adopt a standard set of disability questions to be used with multiple surveys across multiple countries. In subsequent years this question was asked of persons ages 1 and older who received the Family Disability supplement. In each year from 2008 on the question indicates that the person is "blind or [has] serious difficulty seeing even when wearing glasses."
For more information, please refer to the User Note for disability.
Universe
- 1994-1995: Persons in the NHIS-D Phase I sample.
- 2008: Persons age 1+ in quarter 4 who received the family disability test questions (persons administration).
- 2009: Persons age 1+ who received the family disability test questions (person administration).
- 2010-2017: Persons age 1+ who received the Family Disability test questions.
Availability
- 1994-1995, 2008-2017
