Social Participation – a concept that goes beyond mere self care and physical functioning to include individuals’ roles as active, productive members of society, who are well integrated into their families and communities. To measure this concept, Craig researchers have developed an instrument called the Craig Handicap Assessment and Reporting Technique. It is commonly known as “CHART”

Environmental Factors– barriers and facilitators external to the individual – which interfere with or facilitate full participation in society for people with disabilities. The disability itself may affect individuals’ abilities to make friends, find jobs, earn a living, etc. However things that are not at all a part of the individual can also have an effect too – things like accessibility, attitudes of others, rules, policies, etc. Three specific surveys have been developed.

• To measure the presence and impact of these environmental barriers, Craig Hospital researchers have developed the CHIEF – Craig Hospital Inventory of Environmental Factors.
• To measure how people’s attitudes toward disability can be a barrier to people with disabilities, Craig researchers have developed a 6-item General Population Attitudes Survey to assess attitudes of people towards disability.
• To determine how effectively individual communities have minimized barriers for people with disabilities, a Community Characteristics Checklist has been developed. The Checklist is designed to capture information at the county level in main categories including: physical description; population characteristics; weather; accessibility of buildings; health care support services available; public transportation; financial resources and policies governing education for students with disabilities; and availability of health care and support services