Disability: definition, types and models of disability (2023)

Update/Revision Date:2022-04-07
Author:World of the Disabled |Contact:Disabled World (Disabled-World.com)
Further references: Publications on types of disabilities

Summary: Defining disability, including the types of disabilities and defining the meaning of different models of disability. An impairment is defined as a condition or function that is considered to be significantly impaired compared to the usual pattern of an individual or group. The term is used to refer to an individual's ability to function, including physical impairment, sensory impairment, cognitive impairment, mental impairment, mental illness, and various types of chronic diseases. Disability classifications also recognize the role of physical and social environmental factors in influencing disability outcomes. Disabilities can affect people in different ways, even if one person has the same type of disability as another person. Some disabilities can be hidden, known as invisible disabilities. There are many types of disabilities.

To sue

main document

What is a disability?

An impairment is defined as a condition or function that is considered to be significantly impaired compared to the usual pattern of an individual or group. The term is used to refer to an individual's ability to function, including physical impairment, sensory impairment, cognitive impairment, mental impairment, mental illness, and various types of chronic diseases.

Disability is conceptualized as a multidimensional experience for the affected person. There may be effects on organs or parts of the body as well as effects on participation in areas of life. Consequently, the ICF recognizes three dimensions of disability:

• Structure and function of the body (and its deterioration)
• Activity (and activity restrictions)
• Participation (and participation restrictions)

The classification also recognizes the role of physical and social environmental factors in influencing disability outcomes. Disabilities can affect people in different ways, even if one person has the same type of disability as another person. Some disabilities can be hidden, known as invisible disabilities. There are many types of impairments, e.g. B. those that concern the person:

What is the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF)?

The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health, also known as the ICF, is a classification of the health components of functioning and disability. On May 22, 2001, the World Health Assembly approved the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health and its abbreviation "ICF". This classification was first created in 1980 and later named the International Classification of Disabilities, Disabilities and Handicaps, or ICIDH, by the WHO to provide a consistent framework for classifying the health components of functioning and disability. The World Health Organization (WHO) published the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) in 2001, which includes:

The ICF is structured around:

• Functions and structure of the body.
• Additional information on severity and environmental factors.
• Activities (relating to a person's tasks and actions) and Participation (participation in a life situation).

disability assessments

Disability type categories include various physical and mental impairments that can hinder or reduce a person's ability to perform daily activities. These impairments can be described as the person's inability to carry out their daily activities. Disability can be broken down into several broad sub-categories encompassing the following 8 main types of disability.

1 - Mobility and physical disabilities

This category of disability includes people with different types of physical impairments, including:

• Disability of upper extremity(s)
• Disability of lower extremity(s)
• manual dexterity
• Inability to coordinate with different organs of the body.

Limited mobility can be a congenital problem or acquired with age. It could also be the result of an illness. People with broken bones also fall into this category of disabilities.

2 - Deficiency of the spinal cord

spinal cord injury(SCI) can sometimes lead to lifelong disabilities. This type of injury occurs mainly in serious accidents. The injury can be complete or incomplete. With an incomplete injury, the messages sent by the spinal cord are not completely lost. While a complete lesion leads to complete dysfunction of the sensory organs.

In some cases, spinal cord deficiency can be a birth defect.

3 - head injuries - brain deficiency

A deficiency in the brain occurs due to abrain damage. The degree of brain injury can range from mild, moderate, and severe. There are two types of brain injuries:

• Acquired Brain Injury (ABI)
• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

ABI is not a type of hereditary defect, but rather a degeneration that occurs after birth. The causes of these injuries are varied and mainly due to external forces applied to body parts. TBI leads to emotional dysfunction and behavioral problems.

4 - visual impairment

There are hundreds of thousands of people with minor to multiple serious problems.visual impairmentor defects. These injuries can also lead to serious problems or diseases such as blindness and eye injuries to name a few.

Some common visual impairments include corneal scratches, scleral scratches, diabetes-related eye conditions, dry eyes, and corneal transplants.

5 - hearing impairment

deafnessincludes people who are wholly or partially deaf (deaf is the politically correct term for a person with a hearing impairment). People who are partially deaf can often useheadphoneto support your hearing. Deafness can be evident at birth or appear later in life due to various biological causes, for example meningitis can damage the auditory nerve or the cochlea.

Deaf people use sign language as a means of communication. Hundreds of sign languages ​​are in use around the world. Linguistically, sign languages ​​are as rich and complex as any spoken language, despite the common misconception that they are not "real languages".

6 - Cognitive or learning disabilities

cognitive disabilitiesare disabilities in people with dyslexia and other learning disabilities and include language disorders.

7 - Mental disorders

Mood Disorders: Changes in mood or emotional states, short or long term. Mental health impairment is the term used to describe people who have experienced psychiatric problems or illnesses such as:

• Personality Disorders: Defined as profoundly inappropriate patterns of thought and behavior of sufficient severity to cause significant impairment in activities of daily living.
• Schizophrenia: Mental disorder characterized by disturbances in thinking, mood and behavior.

8 - Invisible disabilities

invisible disabilitiesthey are flaws that others do not immediately notice.

An estimated 10% of people in the US have an illness that is considered some sort of invisible disability.

See also:

• Definitions of Disabilities
• Disability Models: Types and Definitions

Subtopics and related topics

Disabled World is an independent community of people with disabilities established in 2004 to serveDisability Newsand information for people with disabilities, older adults, their families and/or carers. see oursmain pagefor informative reviews, exclusive stories and how-to guides. allowed toconnect with uson social media likebloodmiFacebookor learn more about Disabled World in ourabout usPage.

Disabled World only provides general information. The materials presented are never intended and should not be construed as a substitute for professional medical care from a qualified physician. Financial support is derivedAdvertising or Referral Programs, where indicated. Any third party offers or advertisements do not constitute an endorsement.