Report on the Disabled 1997

The Netherlands Institute for Social Research/SCP periodically reports on various population categories, such as the elderly, the young, the disabled and ethnic minorities. The Report on the Disabled 1997 (Rapportage gehandicapten 1997) was compiled at the request of the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport. Earlier editions of the report were published in October 1994 and May 1996.

This report describes the living conditions of people with disabilities and compares them with those of people without disabilities. The areas considered are education, employment, income, housing situation, use of care services and leisure time use. The use of a variety of amenities by people with disabilities is also described.

The report also explores the extent to which the independence of people with disabilities is threatened by poor living conditions, and what contribution amenities and services can make to promoting that independence. A distinction is drawn between economic independence and personal independence.