Validation of Checklist for Reviewing Policies on Quality of Life (CRPQOL) of Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in Punjab, Pakistan

Abstract

This research was conducted to confirm a checklist which is used for the evaluation of policies regarding the quality of life (QOL) of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in Punjab, Pakistan. Eight experts (five national, three international) in the fields of disability policy, special education, and advocacy were involved in the assessment of the checklist for relevance, clarity, and alignment with national (National Policy for Persons with Disabilities [NPPD] 2002; Punjab Special Education Policy [PSEP] 2020) and international frameworks (UNCRPD) using a descriptive, cross-sectional design. The experts' review and iterative refinement through content and construct validity facilitated the establishment of content and construct validity, while internal consistency was used to verify reliability. The validated checklist covers in detail the main aspects of QOL from the point of view of education, healthcare, vocational training, social inclusion, and rights and is moving beyond the traditional use of checklists in clinical and procedural settings to the field of disability policy analysis. The results show that the instrument is locally suitable and methodologically strong, thus giving policymakers and researchers a structured way to carry out systematic, rights, oriented policy evaluations and facilitate evidence-based reforms for individuals with IDD in Punjab.