Definition of Disability

•A disability is often defined as the malfunctioning, disturbance or loss in the normal functioning of physical, mental or psychological processes, or a difficulty in the ability to learn, or adjust socially, which interferes with a person’s normal growth and development.

Definition of Handicap

•Handicap is a difficulty experienced by a person because of the nature of the environment in which she finds herself.

•For instance, even if an individual has a locomotor disability she will still be mobile as long she can get around in a wheelchair. However, if the building in which she has to work has no ramps or lifts which accommodate wheelchairs, she is handicapped by the environment of the building. On the other hand an able bodied person who does not know how to swim or row a boat is handicapped when he has to cross a river unless he can find someone to ferry him across.

•Hence, handicap refers to an environmental factor that an individual finds difficult to overcome.

Definition of Impairment, Disability and Handicap (WHO, 1976)

•“an impairment is any loss or abnormality of psychological, physiological or anatomical structure or function;

•A disability is any restriction or lack (resulting from an impairment) of ability to perform an activity in the manner or within the range considered normal for a human being;

• a handicap is a disadvantage for a given individual, resulting from an impairment or a disability, that prevents the fulfilment of a role that is considered normal (depending on age, sex, social and cultural factors) for that individual”.

Examples to illustrate the differences among the terms "impairment," "disability," and "handicap."

• CP example: David is a 4-yr.-old who has a form of cerebral palsy (CP) called spastic diplegia. David's CP causes his legs to be stiff, tight, and difficult to move. He cannot stand or walk.

•Impairment: The inability to move the legs easily at the joints and inability to bear weight on the feet is an impairment.

•Disability: David's inability to walk is a disability. His level of disability can be improved with physical therapy and special equipment. For example, if he learns to use a walker, with braces, his level of disability will improve considerably.

•Handicap: David's cerebral palsy is handicapping to the extent that it prevents him from fulfilling a normal role at home, in preschool, and in the community.

Causes of Disabilities

•The most common causes of impairment and disability include chronic diseases such as -

•diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer;

•injuries such as those due to road traffic crashes, conflicts, falls, landmines, mental impairments, birth defects, malnutrition, HIV/AIDS and other communicable diseases.

Types of disabilities

•Visual impairment

•Hearing impairment

•Locomotor impairment

•Cerebral palsy

•Mental retardation

•Mental illness

•Autism

•Multiple disability

Visual impairment             

•Generic term

•Terms like blind and low vision also used

•Blind- Total absence of sight

•Low vision- Less visual functioning but can be used with appropriate assistive devices

Hearing impairment

•Difficulty in hearing various degrees of sounds

–Conductive hearing loss

–Sensori- neural hearing loss

–Mixed hearing loss

–Central hearing loss

  Loco-motor disability

•Disability of the bones and joints leading to restriction of movement of limbs

•Conditions leading to loco-motor disability are polio, amputation, Injuries to spine and head, fractures, muscular dystrophies

•Cerebral Palsy- Brain damage early in life leads to co-ordination, movement and balance

Mental retardation

•Limitations in communication, self care, home living, social skills, self direction, health and safety and academics

•Manifests before 18 years of age

•Types: Mild, Moderate, Severe and Profound

Autism

•Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impaired social interaction, verbal and non-verbal communication, and restricted and repetitive behavior

Mental illness

•Occurs due to stressful experiences

•Leads to abnormal behaviours

•Can be cured through appropriate treatment by Psychiatrists and medicine

Multiple disability

•Combination of two or more disabilities

•Deaf blindness

•Cerebral palsy with mental retardation

•Cerebral palsy with autism