Description

DIFFMOB indicates whether the respondent has any physical, mental, or emotional condition lasting six months or more that makes it difficult or impossible to perform basic activities outside the home alone. This does not include temporary health problems, such as broken bones.

Comparability

Apart from universe differences, there are slight changes to the question wording. Most dramatically, the 2008 ACS/PRCS dropped the stipulation that the health condition have lasted for at least six months. The 1980 census variable DISABTRN, public transportation disability, also covers limitations on mobility outside the house.

User Caution: Researchers utilizing the disability variables in the ACS and PRCS should be aware of changes to the ACS questionnaire between 2002 and 2003. Due to these changes, it may be impossible to distinguish between actual differences in disability rates between 2002 and 2003 and differences attributable to changes in the questionnaire. More specifically, evidence presented at the 2003 Joint Statistical Meetings suggested that Census 2000 and the ACS in 2000 included a confusing skip pattern and item wording resulting in over-reporting, specifically in the last two parts of the disability question. Since the ACS continued to use the same disability items in 2001 and 2002, it seemed likely that the trend of over-reporting continued in those years. See this Census Bureau working paper for more information: Disability Data From the American Community Survey: A Brief Examination of the Effects of Question Redesign in 2003. Users should also exercise caution in comparing rates between 2007 and 2008, as the questionnaire changed in both wording and structure.

Universe

Availability

• 2022: All samples
• 2021: All samples
• 2020: All samples
• 2019: All samples
• 2018: All samples
• 2017: All samples
• 2016: All samples
• 2015: All samples
• 2014: All samples
• 2013: All samples
• 2012: All samples
• 2011: ACS; ACS 3yr
• 2010: ACS; ACS 3yr
• 2009: ACS
• 2008: ACS
• 2007: All samples
• 2006: All samples
• 2005: All samples
• 2004: All samples
• 2003: All samples
• 2002: All samples
• 2001: All samples
• 2000: All samples
• 1990: All samples
• 1980: --
• 1970: --
• 1960: --
• 1950: --
• 1940: --
• 1930: --
• 1920: --
• 1910: --
• 1900: --
• 1880: --
• 1870: --
• 1860: --
• 1850: --

• 2022: All samples
• 2021: All samples
• 2020: All samples
• 2019: All samples
• 2018: All samples
• 2017: All samples
• 2016: All samples
• 2015: All samples
• 2014: All samples
• 2013: All samples
• 2012: All samples
• 2011: PRCS; PRCS 3yr
• 2010: PRCS; PRCS 3yr
• 2009: PRCS
• 2008: PRCS
• 2007: All samples
• 2006: All samples
• 2005: All samples
• 2000: All samples
• 1990: All samples
• 1980: --
• 1970: --
• 1930: --
• 1920: --
• 1910: --

Flags

Editing Procedure

DIFFREM (Cognitive difficulty)
DIFFPHYS (Ambulatory difficulty)
DIFFMOB (Independent living difficulty)
DIFFSENS (Vision or hearing difficulty)
DIFFCARE (Self-care difficulty)
DISABWRK (Work disability)
DIFFEYE (Vision difficulty)
DIFFHEAR (Hearing difficulty)
ACS Years: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
ACS editing procedure:
Note: DIFFEYE and DIFFHEAR were added in 2008; prior to 2008 they were asked together in DIFFSENS. DISABWRK was not asked in 2008 or later.
If a person has a "Blank, Don't Know, Refused, or Bad Value" for DIFFEYE, DIFFHEAR, DIFFREM, DIFFPHYS, DIFFMOB, DIFFSENS, DIFFCARE, or DISABWRK it will be allocated. If the person is under 16 (15 starting in 2008), the allocated value will be drawn from other respondents of a similar age and sex. If the person is 16 to 29 (15 to 29 starting in 2008), the allocated values will be drawn from other respondents with the same sex, employment status, and school enrollment status. For those 30 to 64, the allocated values will be drawn from other respondents with the same sex, employment status, and age group (30 to 39, 40 to 49, and 50 to 64). For those 65 and older, the allocated values will be drawn from other respondents with the same sex and age group (65 to 74, 75 to 84, and 85+). The flag variables will show when a value is allocated (QDIFHEAR, QDIFEYE, QDIFREM, QDIFPHYS, QDIFMOB, QDIFSENS, QDIFCARE, QDISABWR)
If a person is under 5 years old, DIFFREM, DIFFPHYS, DIFFSENS, and DIFFCARE will be replaced with a "Not in universe" values. If a person is under 16, DIFFMOB and DISABWRK will be replaced with "Not in universe."
Internal ACS variable : DEYE DPHY DREM DDRS DOT DWRK DEAR