Disability Identity Development Scale (DIDS)
Instructions: Choose the answer that best reflects your answer to the following
statements and mark the box that corresponds to your answer.
Do you have a disability?
o Yes, I have a non/less apparent disability (hidden)
o Yes, I have an apparent disability (visible)
o Yes, I have both non/less apparent and apparent disabilities
o No, I do not have a disability. (If no, stop here.)
Not Like A Little Bit Somewhat A Lot Like Very Much
Me At All Like Me Like Me Me Like Me
1. If I witness someone else facing discrimination on
the basis of ANY disability, I do something about o o o o o
it.
2. I am proud to identify as a person with a
disability.
o o o o o
3. I serve on disability-related panels, Boards or
committees.
o o o o o
4. I organize events for the disability community
(i.e., support group meetings, sporting events, o o o o o
advocacy events, lectures).
5. I have a strong sense of belonging to people with
disabilities.
o o o o o
6. I learn about disability culture by reading
books/articles/blogs/websites.
o o o o o
7. I believe there is a disability community. o o o o o
8. I am a mentor to other people with disabilities. o o o o o
9. I identify with disability culture. o o o o o
10. I give advice to other people with disabilities. o o o o o
11. I am a mentor to other people with MY disability. o o o o o
12. I advocate for accessibility. o o o o o
13. I identify as a person with a disability. o o o o o
14. I advocate for inclusion. o o o o o
15. I wish that I was not disabled. o o o o o
16. I like (or would like) attending disability
community events.
o o o o o
Disability Identity Development Scale (DIDS) © 2021 by Anjali Forber-Pratt, Ph.D., Lawrence Price, Ph.D., Gabriel Merrin,
Ph.D., Rachel A. Hanebutt & Javari A. Fairclough
Not Like A Little Bit Somewhat A Lot Like Very Much
Me At All Like Me Like Me Me Like Me
17. I embrace the core values of disability culture as
my own.
o o o o o
18. I view myself as a disability expert. o o o o o
19. There are some days that I wish I did not have a
disability.
o o o o o
20. I believe there is a disability culture. o o o o o
21. I connect people with disabilities to the
disability community.
o o o o o
22. I fundraise for disability-related causes. o o o o o
23. I seek out friends who have disabilities. o o o o o
24. I identify with a disability community. o o o o o
25. I speak publicly about disability (in person or
online).
o o o o o
26. Being a person with a disability is an important
reflection of me.
o o o o o
27. I am able to contribute to the disability
community.
o o o o o
28. I engage with the disability community. o o o o o
29. I think of my disability as a core part of who I am. o o o o o
30. I like (or would like) attending disability-related
advocacy events (i.e., rallys, protests, policy o o o o o
townhalls).
31. If there was a "magic pill" that would take away
my disability with no side effects, I would take it.
o o o o o
32. I like (or would like) attending events hosted by
disability-related organizations.
o o o o o
33. I have a strong sense of belonging to the
disability community.
o o o o o
34. If I witness someone else facing an access barrier,
I do something about it.
o o o o o
35. I like (or would like) attending disability-related
talks or lectures.
o o o o o
Disability Identity Development Scale (DIDS) © 2021 by Anjali Forber-Pratt, Ph.D., Lawrence Price, Ph.D., Gabriel Merrin,
Ph.D., Rachel A. Hanebutt & Javari A. Fairclough
Scoring Directions:
Not Like Me At All = 0
A Little Bit Like Me = 1
Somewhat Like Me = 2
A Lot Like Me = 3
Very Much Like Me = 4
*Items #: 15, 19, 31 should be reverse scored (R) prior to computing the sum score: Not Like Me At All = 4, A
Little Bit Like Me = 3, Somewhat Like Me = 2, A Lot Like Me = 1, Very Much Like Me = 0 for only these items.
ITEM # RESPONSE
1 Score Interpretation:
2
This measure identifies both internal and external dimensions of disability identity. There are
3
items that describe internal processing involve an individual’s private reflection or emotions
4 about their disability as well as items that describe external actions represent visible or
5 identifiable “moves” towards participation in disability community. Both internal and external
6 dimensions are important and together represent disability identity. Higher scores indicate
greater agreement with the corresponding disability identity status. Lower scores indicate less
7
agreement with the corresponding disability identity status. However, these scores are not meant
8 to be static and are expected to change and shift, in either direction, based on life
9 circumstances, time since disability, exposure to the disability community among many other
10 factors. However, this score does provide rehabilitation clinicians, psychologists, counselors and
11 individuals a starting point of where a person is at in terms of having or acknowledging their
disability identity.
12
13 • Low: cut score of 57
14 • Low-Moderate: cut score of 84
**15 • High-Moderate: cut score of 111
16 • High: cut score of above 111
17
18
**19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
**31
32
33
34
35
0
TOTAL:
Disability Identity Development Scale (DIDS) © 2021 by Anjali Forber-Pratt, Ph.D., Lawrence Price, Ph.D., Gabriel Merrin,
Ph.D., Rachel A. Hanebutt & Javari A. Fairclough