The world is changing, and now, more than ever, your experiences need to be heard!

The Institute for Health and Disability Policy Studies (IHDPS) at the University of Kansas is conducting the National Survey on Health and Disability (NSHD) to ask U.S. adults with disabilities to share their experiences with housing, health care, health insurance, transportation, community participation and other aspects of daily life.

NSHD responses help shape resources, policies and practice recommendations aimed at improving the health, employment and overall well-being of people with disabilities in the United States.

“Obtaining robust data about the experiences of people with disabilities directly from those people is crucial when working to address disparities,” said Noelle Kurth, principal investigator for the project and a research associate at IHDPS, a part of the KU Life Span Institute.

“This is a national survey specifically designed by people with disabilities, for people with disabilities — to center their voices, experiences, and priorities.”

The NSHD gathers information that helps policymakers, researchers and community organizations better understand the barriers and successes people with disabilities experience in their daily lives. These insights guide future research, inform policy and support the development of practical resources to improve health, employment and community participation outcomes.

Kelsey Goddard, an assistant research professor at IHDPS, said that the survey is open to anyone who has a physical, mental, emotional or health condition — even if they do not identify as having a disability.

“It’s OK if you don’t think of yourself as disabled,” Goddard said. “If you have a condition that impacts your life, your experiences are important and can help improve our communities.”

The survey is available online or by phone (1-855-556-6328) and can be completed in English, Spanish or American Sign Language (ASL).

People who need accommodations or have questions can contact the study team at 1-855-556-6328 or healthsurvey@ku.edu.

The survey is confidential and takes about 20-30 minutes to complete. It can be done online with a smartphone, tablet, computer, over the telephone, or in ASL via Zoom.

IHDPS conducts research and evaluation to improve access to and quality of health care services for all people, especially those with disabilities and chronic health conditions. Funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research, the NSHD was originally established in 2018 under the leadership of Research Professor Jean Hall. Kurth said that Hall’s contributions to disability research helped shape the survey into a trusted resource for understanding the experiences of people with disabilities nationwide.

(Thank you to IHDPS for providing outreach materials used in this post.)