CHART Properties

1. Initial calibration of the CHART scoring system was based on administration of the instrument to 88 able-bodied individuals and 100 persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) (Whiteneck et al, 1992).

2. Once the norms had been established, two studies were conducted to assess the psychometric properties of the CHART. These studies established the CHART as a reliable and valid instrument, as well as a well-calibrated linear scale (Whiteneck et al, 1992; Dijkers, 1991).

3. An initial application of the CHART was performed with a group of 342 spinal cord injured individuals. Beyond demonstrating the instrument's effectiveness in assessing the extent of handicap or social disadvantage, this application, by documenting rehabilitation outcomes, demonstrated the potential usefulness of the the CHART for program evaluation (Whiteneck et al, 1992).

4. The CHART was initially designed and tested as a measure of handicap in person with physical disabilities. A study was conducted to test the reliability of the newly developed cognitive independence subscale. Results indicated that the cognitive subscale of the CHART was reliable and enhanced the appropriateness of the CHART in assessing handicap among persons having cognitive impairments (Mellick et al, 1999).

5. A study was done to facilitate the proper use and interpretation of the CHART as a measure of community integration and social participation in individuals with SCI. CHART data on 1,998 cases in the Model SCI Systems database were analyzed. These cases provide the basis for norms by neurologic categories on a large sample. The CHART total score was shown to be a potentially misleading summary assessment of handicap, and use of subscale scores is recommended (Hall et al, 1998).

6. Participant-proxy agreement across six disability groups provided evidence in support of the inclusion of proxy data for person with various types of disabilities (Cusick et al, in development).

7. While initially developed for use with persons with spinal cord injury, the revised CHART has since been found to be an appropriate measure of handicap that can be used with individuals having a range of physical or cognitive impairments (Whiteneck et al, in development).