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Landes Talks to Disability Scoop About CDC Plans to Drop Disability Questions From Federal Survey

The proposal is particularly alarming since the existing survey is already flawed, says Scott Landes, professor of sociology and co-founder of the Disability Health Equity Research Network. “Studies using the survey’s own data show it misses about half of the disabled adults the federal standard for measuring disability identifies,” he says.

October 8, 2026

Landes Article on Trump’s Push to Lock up Disabled People Published in The Progressive Magazine

“If states are permitted to follow the guidance of the DOJ and begin forcibly institutionalizing disabled people once again, this loss of rights will expand to where it harms us all. We must work together to fight ableist policies by protecting the civil rights of both disabled and nondisabled Americans,” writes Scott Landes, professor of sociology.

September 28, 2026

Changes in the Education-Health Gradient Within US States, 1993–2019

Jennifer Karas Montez, Iliya Gutin, Julia M. Finan, Anna Zajacova, Scott Landes

Co-authored by Maxwell faculty members Jennifer Karas Montez, Iliya Gutin and Scott Landes, along with Ph.D. student Julia Finan, the article was published in Population Research and Policy Review.

July 7, 2026

Revealing Cause of Death Patterns among Adults With Down Syndrome and Alzheimer’s Disease

Julia M. Finan, Scott D. Landes, Margaret A. Turk

The article, co-authored by Ph.D. student Julia Finnan and Professor of Sociology Scott Landes, was published in the Journal of Health and Social Behavior.

June 15, 2026

See related: Disability, Longevity, United States

Differences in COVID-19 Experiences Between US Working Age Adults With and Without ADHD

Nastassia Vaitsiakhovich, Shannon M. Monnat, Andrew S. London, Scott D. Landes

Co-authored by sociologists Shannon Monnat, Andrew London and Scott Landes, the study was published in SSM - Mental Health.

April 7, 2026

Public Health: A Vital Addition to Maxwell

The department’s transition from Falk College fuels collaboration across disciplines, strengthens research centers, and establishes a hub for population and public health sciences.

December 5, 2025

See related: School History, Student Experience

Differences in Religious Attendance Among Disabled and Nondisabled Early and Early Midlife Adults

Scott D. Landes, Katie Mueller

The article, co-authored by Professor of Sociology Scott Landes, was published in the Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion.

September 2, 2025

See related: Disability, Religion, United States

Maxwell School Announces Faculty Promotions for 2025-26

Eight faculty members have received tenure in their promotion to associate professor.

August 22, 2025

See related: Promotions & Appointments

The Disability Mismatch: The Case for a Comprehensive Disability Status Measure

Scott D Landes, Bonnielin K Swenor, Jean P Hall, Anjali J Forber-Pratt, Nastassia Vaitsiakhovich, Kate Caldwell, Mihir Kakara, Deborah Lefkowitz, Andrew Myers, Susan J Popkin, Nicholas S Reed, Emily F Rothman, Maggie Salinger

Co-authored by Professor of Sociology Scott Landes, the article “The Disability Mismatch: The Case for a Comprehensive Disability Status Measure” was published in Health Affairs Scholar.

July 28, 2025

See related: Disability, United States

Scott Landes Recognized for Excellence in Teaching, Support of Students

The Maxwell sociologist received an Excellence in Graduate Education Award and an honor from the Center for Disability Resources.

May 7, 2025

See related: Awards & Honors

Scott Landes Wins Research Award for Work on Disability and Survey Metrics

The IPUMS award recognizes his co-authored paper on disability status and health survey data.

May 1, 2025

Disability Measures Used in U.S. Federal Surveys Significantly Underreport Disability Status

Nastassia Vaitsiakhovich, Scott D. Landes, Jean P. Hall, and Bonnielin K. Swenor

U.S. federal surveys commonly use two question sets to measure disability: the American Community Survey (ACS-6) and the Washington Group Short Set (WG-SS). This data slice examines the percentage of disabled people captured by these two different survey sets.

February 25, 2025

The Role of Perceived Social Support in Subjective Wellbeing Among Working-Age US Adults

Nastassia Vaitsiakhovich, Scott D. Landes, Shannon M. Monnat

The study, co-authored by Maxwell sociologists Scott Landes and Shannon Monnat, was published in Disability and Health Journal.

January 1, 2025

See related: Disability, Mental Health, United States

Differences in PTSD Between US Civilians and Military Veterans in Gulf War and Post-9/11 War Cohorts

Kevin J. Ortiz Diaz, Scott D. Landes, Shannon M. Monnat

Findings by sociologists Scott Landes and Shannon Monnat show that among both war eligibility cohorts, combat veterans were more likely than nonveterans to report a PTSD diagnosis. Published in Armed Forces & Society.

November 18, 2024

See related: Mental Health, United States, Veterans

It is Time to Stop Using the Washington Group Questions to Measure Disability in US Federal Surveys

Scott D. Landes, Bonnielin K. Swenor, and Jean P. Hall

This brief summarizes findings from a recent study that shows that, by using the Washington Group Short Set on Functioning (WGSS) questions in the National Health Interview Survey, our federal government is failing to accurately identify the severity of functional limitations specifically related to vision and hearing.

October 29, 2024

Landes Article on Official US Census Data Missing Millions of Disabled People Published by STAT

“Many disabled people are not included in official U.S. data. This is because there is ‘No Box to Check’ to indicate their particular disability on surveys from the U.S. Census Bureau and other federal agencies. The questions used to identify people with disabilities are missing millions,” writes Scott Landes, associate professor of sociology.

September 30, 2024

Differences in Happiness, Perceived Meaning in Life for Adults with and without Self-Care Disability

Nastassia Vaitsiakhovich, Scott D. Landes, and Shannon M. Monnat

This brief summarizes findings from a study that examined differences in happiness and perceived meaning in life between U.S. working-age adults (ages 18-64) with versus without a self-care disability (such as difficulty eating, using the toilet, or dressing without assistance) and the role social support plays in improving happiness and meaning in life.

September 10, 2024

Landes Talks to Spectrum News About His Study on Mortality Rates of People With Disabilities

“It doesn’t matter your age or your gender or your race, or your level of education, or your income or your health status,” says Scott Landes, associate professor of sociology. “If you’re disabled, you’re about two times more likely to die than a non-disabled person.”

September 10, 2024

See related: Disability, Longevity, United States

Risk Of Mortality For Disabled Adults Nearly Twice That For Nondisabled Adults, 2008–19

Scott Landes

“Disability Mortality Disparity: Risk Of Mortality For Disabled Adults Nearly Twice That For Nondisabled Adults, 2008–19,” authored by Associate Professor of Sociology Scott Landes, was published in Health Affairs.

August 27, 2024

See related: Disability, Longevity, United States

A Research Roadmap Toward Improved Measures Of Disability

Scott D. Landes, Bonnielin K. Swenor, Melissa A. Clark, Kelsey S. Goddard, Jean P. Hall, Amanda Hermans, Catherine Ipsen, Michael Karpman, Noelle K. Kurth, Andrew Myers, Susan J. Popkin, Maggie R. Salinger, Nastassia Vaitsiakovich

“A Research Roadmap Toward Improved Measures Of Disability,” co-authored by Associate Professor of Sociology Scott Landes, was published in Health Affairs.

July 9, 2024

In the News: Scott D. Landes