Measuring participation across impairment groups using the Craig Handicap Assessment Reporting Technique

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy, across a range of disability groups, of the Craig Handicap Assessment and Reporting Technique (CHART), a measure of societal participation. DESIGN: Cross-sectional analysis survey methodology. A total of 1110 community-based, nonhospitalized Coloradans with spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis, stroke, burn, or amputation were interviewed twice, 2 wks apart, using the CHART and a single administration of the FIM. RESULTS: Across all impairment groups, the intraclass correlation for the total score and the subscales of CHART-R were high. In addition, the CHART-R discriminated among the impairment categories in a direction that parallels increasing disability. CONCLUSIONS: CHART may be an appropriate measure of handicap for a range of physical or cognitive impairments.