what are disabilities
'Disability' means different things to different people and the definition has changed over time. A recent definition is:
"any visible, invisible, emotional, social and educational differences that are a part of normal, everyday life. Disability can refer to a medical diagnosis, a barrier and/or a person’s identity."
(Easter Seals)
The American with Disabilities Act defines disability as:
"a person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activity"
(ADA)
It is important to keep in mind that disability is the "interaction between individuals with a health condition with personal and environmental factors including negative attitudes, inaccessible transportation and public buildings, and limited social support."
(World Health Organization) . This means that people's disabilities are often created by lack of accessibility and inclusion in the world around them.
"any visible, invisible, emotional, social and educational differences that are a part of normal, everyday life. Disability can refer to a medical diagnosis, a barrier and/or a person’s identity."
(Easter Seals)
The American with Disabilities Act defines disability as:
"a person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activity"
(ADA)
It is important to keep in mind that disability is the "interaction between individuals with a health condition with personal and environmental factors including negative attitudes, inaccessible transportation and public buildings, and limited social support."
(World Health Organization) . This means that people's disabilities are often created by lack of accessibility and inclusion in the world around them.
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What are disabilities?
It is difficult to find one list that everyone agrees includes all disabilities. One place to start is the list of 13 types of disabilities defined by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which is used for special education in schools.
You can read more about these at Understood. |
What are developmental disabilities?
"Developmental disabilities are a group of conditions due to an impairment in physical, learning, language, or behavior areas. About 1 in 6 children in the U.S. have one or more developmental disabilities or other developmental delays." (Centers for Disease Control) They can include intellectual disabilities, physical disabilities, or both. There are many resources to help you know if your child has developmental delays. A list of things to look for is provided at the Healthy Children website. What are intellectual disabilities?
"Intellectual disability (or ID) is a term used when a person has certain limitations in cognitive functioning and skills, including communication, social and self-care skills." (Special Olympics) It is the most common type of developmental disability. Find more information here
About Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (by National Institutes of Health) |