Objectives: Firstly to investigate the utility of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health's (ICF's) participation dimension when items from extant questionnaires focusing on participation were assigned to ICF codes on an item-by-item basis; and, secondly, to conduct a preliminary investigation of the theoretical assumption expressed in ICF that ICF's environment component interacts with body function and participation components. 

Design: A person-based, descriptive study. 

Subjects: The sample comprised students with disabilities (n = 448), their parents/relatives ( n = 414), their teachers/managers (n = 418) and special education consultants (n = 110). 

Methods: Items from original surveys were used. Participation of students with disabilities: a survey of participation in school activities, The Arc's Self-Determination Scale, Perceived interaction-questionnaire, Environments survey, The Abilities Index. Data were analysed with the help of ANOVA, Scheffe pair-wise comparisons, correlation analysis and cluster analysis. 

Results: The study partly confirmed the utility of ICF participation dimension in assigning codes to items from extant instruments. Moderate statistical correlations between participation chapters and between items from different ICF dimensions were found. Cluster analysis resulted in groups with participation patterns not related to type of disability. 

Conclusion: Items from extant instruments can be assigned to ICF participation codes, but further item analyses and a more extensive questionnaire base are needed.