The Canadian Survey on Disability (CSD) is a national survey that collects information about the lived experiences of youth and adults whose everyday activities may be limited due to a long-term condition or health-related problem. The survey collects information on the type and severity of disabilities, and touches upon a wide range of topics that provide valuable insight into the social and economic well-being of persons with disabilities. The data will be used by organizations, associations and advocates for persons with disabilities; all levels of government across Canada; as well as researchers and educators, among others.
Your participation can help ensure that policies, programs and services are designed based on the most accurate information possible to reflect the real life challenges and issues facing persons with disabilities.
With your help, we can move one step closer to an inclusive, barrier-free Canada.
Your information may also be used by Statistics Canada for other statistical and research purposes. In addition, information from partially completed or unsaved questionnaires may be retained and used.
Collection period:
Collection methods:
Electronic questionnaire and Computer Assisted Telephone Interview (CATI) as a follow-up for non-response.
Survey participation:
Confidentiality
Data are collected under the authority of Statistics Act, Revised Statutes of Canada, 1985, Chapter S-19.
Data sharing agreements and record linkage
In order to reduce the number of questions, Statistics Canada plans to combine the results of this survey with other administrative data sources such as information collected during the 2021 Census. We may also add information from other surveys or administrative data sources.
Topics covered in the survey
The Canadian Survey on Disability will ask about long-term conditions, and/or health-related problems that you may have and how they impact your daily life. With your help, valuable information will be collected on the following topics:
- the type and severity of disabilities, including age of onset and age of limitation
- medical conditions
- episodic disabilities
- medication use
- cannabis use
- types of aids, assistive devices and technologies used
- help received
- health care services and therapies
- education
- labour (employment)
- Veterans
- Internet use
- accessibility barriers
- general health
- housebound status
- social isolation
- sources of income
- food security
- homelessness
- sexual orientation
- COVID-19.
Published data
Statistics Canada publishes the results of its surveys in many formats. To find all the documents related to this survey, follow the links below and type the name of the survey in the search engine located at the left of your screen to filter the results.
Data: You will find tables, profiles of a community or region, thematic maps, public use microdata files, and data visualization tools.
Analysis: You will have direct access to Stats in brief (e.g., releases from The Daily, fact sheets), articles and reports, and journals and periodicals.
Survey-specific questions
- What is the purpose of this survey?
- Are there new questions being asked for 2022?
- Who will use this information? Why is the Canadian Survey on Disability important?
- Why should I respond to this survey?
- How many people will be contacted to participate in the survey?
- How was I chosen for this survey? How did you get my name and phone number?
- When will the results of this survey be available?
- Where can I find more information about the Canadian Survey on Disability?
What is the purpose of this survey?
The Canadian Survey on Disability (CSD) is a Canada-wide survey that gathers information about persons aged 15 years and older whose daily activities are limited because of a long-term condition or health-related problem. The survey will collect information about different disability types, focusing on activity limitations related to hearing, vision, mobility, flexibility, dexterity, pain, learning, mental health, memory and developmental disabilities.
Some of the topics covered are: type and severity of disability, use of aids, assistive devices and technologies, medication use, health care services and therapies, general health, and educational and labour force experiences.
Are there new questions being asked for 2022?
Most of the content included in the 2022 Canadian Survey on Disability (CSD) is the same as it was in the last cycle, which was conducted in 2017. This allows for important comparisons and observations to be made about changes that may have taken place over the last five years, for instance, whether the employment rate for persons with disabilities has improved or worsened since 2017.
However, there are several additional new topics being included for the first time such as:
- cannabis use
- accessibility barriers
- social isolation
- food security
- homelessness
- sexual orientation
- COVID-19
Who will use this information? Why is the Canadian Survey on Disability important?
Information collected from the Canadian Survey on Disability (CSD) is important to a wide range of data users, including governments, associations for persons with disabilities, and researchers working in the field of disability. Your answers can help inform decisions, plans and evaluations for social and economic programs and services designed for persons with disabilities across Canada.
In particular, information from the Canadian Survey on Disability (CSD) serves as a benchmark for many employers to determine whether they are meeting employment equity targets for designated groups including persons with disabilities. Data from the survey is also used by income support programs like the Disability Tax Credit and the Registered Disability Savings Plan.
In Ontario, the Canadian Survey on Disability (CSD) serves as the standard for the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, whose ultimate goal is to make Ontario fully accessible by 2025.
Internationally, data on disabilities are used to fulfill various commitments, including the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Why should I respond to this survey?
You were randomly selected. However, your answers are representative of other Canadians just like you and your information cannot be replaced by someone else's.
By participating in the survey, you will help provide valuable insight into the lived experiences, unique challenges and barriers faced by persons whose everyday activities may be limited because of a long-term condition or health-related problem. The information from this survey will be more important than ever because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
How many people will be contacted to participate in the survey?
Approximately 54,000 persons from across Canada.
How was I chosen for this survey? How did you get my name and phone number?
Either you or someone from your household completed the 2021 Census long-form questionnaire for Statistics Canada. Your name was randomly chosen from a list of all individuals across Canada who reported having difficulty sometimes, often, or always to at least one of the Activities of Daily Living questions.
When will the results of this survey be available?
The first results from the survey will be available in winter 2023/2024.
Where can I find more information about the Canadian Survey on Disability?
For more information about the survey, please call the National Contact Centre at 1-800-263-1136 or text telephone for those with hearing loss (TTY) at 1-866-753-7083.
If you use an operator-assisted relay service, you can call us during regular business hours. You do not need to authorize the operator to contact us.