Does who responds matter?: exploring potential proxy response bias in the Washington Group Short Set disability estimates

Differences in proxy reporting have real implications for equity, access, and policy accountability. If proxy reporting systematically increases the likelihood of disability classification, prevalence estimates may be distorted. This is especially problematic when proxies are more likely to report for populations already at risk of under- or overrepresentation in disability data, such as older adults, people with cognitive disabilities, and children and adolescents. Future studies using the WG-SS should treat the reporting source, i.e., proxy response, not as a procedural footnote, but as a central variable in assessing data quality and equity.