Do the CPS data measure the total size of the disability population?
The CPS will not provide a measure of the total size of the disability population. The CPS population is limited to the civilian noninstitutional population 16 years and older. Thus, it does not include persons who live in institutions—such as prisons, long-term care hospitals, and nursing homes—or those who are on active duty in the Armed Forces. Health-focused surveys typically use dozens of questions to identify all persons with disabilities. It is likely that the relatively small number of disability-related questions in the CPS could fail to identify some people with disabilities.
