The measurement of disability cannot be validated against a hard end point in the way that the Abbreviated Injury Scale relates to threat to life. Most disability scoring systems are based on subjective observation of chronically ill patients. This paper presents the initial results of a prospective system of assessment of temporary and permanent disability following minor and major injury. 500 patients have been asked 4 and 26 weeks after injury about activities of daily living and mobility. An expanded AIS dictionary is proposed and a system described which could form the basis of a trauma disability "scale".