A disability may be considered in a number of ways, including an impairment in body structure or function, a limitation in activities or a restriction in participation. Differing aspects of disability can exist in varying degrees and combinations. The GSS provides an assessment of the impact that a disability or long-term physical or mental health condition may have on a person's everyday life. A long-term health condition is any condition or disorder that has lasted, or is expected to last for six months or longer. Measurement of the nature and severity of limitation or restriction against a series of core activities provides a measure of disability status, ranging from 'mild' to 'profound'.
In the 2010 GSS, 40% of adults self-assessed themselves as having some form of disability or long-term health condition. Of these 6.8 million people, 29% had a core-activity limitation and 12% had a condition or disorder that impacted on their schooling or employment (table 1).