Mauritius Disability Data Workshop: Washington Group Experience

2. Mauritian experience in participating in the Washington Group Workshop

4. Country profile • The population of the Republic of Mauritius was around 1.2 million people in 2005 • The per capita GNP is around $5,000

5. Sources of disability statistics • Population Census • Beneficiaries of disability pensions compiled by the Ministry of Social Security

6. Question of disability in census Does the person experience any disability (i.e. any limitation to perform a daily life activity in a manner considered normal for a person of his/her age), because of a long term physical/mental condition or health problem? Write yes or no

7. If yes, insert as many disabilities as applicable as follows: • SPCH –speaking and talking disabilities • EAR – hearing and listening disabilities even with hearing aid • EYE – seeing disabilities even with glasses • MTION – walking, running and other ambulation disabilities • MANU – manual activity disability such as fingering, gripping and holding • LEARN – disturbance of ability to learn and acquire education

8. BEH – disturbance of behaviour, including antisocial behaviour, maladjustment and liability to self injury • CARE – inability to look after oneself with regard to personal care and hygiene, feeding etc. • OTHER – other disabilities (specify)

10. Disability data from beneficiaries of invalid pensions

11. Eligibility criteria • The basic invalid’s pension is payable to any person aged from 15-59 years if certified by a medical board that the person is either permanently or substantially incapacitated to work to a degree of 60% or more for at least 12 months • Once the period covered by the medical certificate expires, application has to be made afresh

12. Eligibility criteria • Persons attaining age 60 shift to the basic retirement pension but receives an additional sum if they are either • Totally blind • Suffer from total paralysis • Need the constant care of another person (Enhanced Basic Retirement pension)

14. Country experience in participating in Washington Group workshop • Opportunity to know more about activities of the Washington Group in the field of disability statistics • To know more about new development proposed by the Washington group in terms of the phrasing of questions on disability • Briefed on the different steps involved in the proposed field testing

15. Country experience in participating in Washington Group workshop • Introduced to the cognitive testing which was unknown to us • Opportunity to know about the experience of other countries in terms of activities related to disability statistics

16. The conduct of field test • Were proposed to conduct field testing • Only cognitive testing will be conducted • A sample of 24 respondents will be interviewed – financial constraints • Propose to use the questionnaire provided in the workshop held in Kenya in June 2005

17. Procedures • Timing of survey will be around October/November 2005 • Sampling frame – List of people with disabilities to be obtained from the Ministry of Social Security • The procedures for the preparation not yet started – will soon start after this workshop

18. Expectations from this workshop • Hoping to receive additional materials and know–how in order to conduct the cognitive testing more efficiently • Not sure on the extent of our involvement in the analysis of the survey data

19. Thank You for your attention