Disability Matters: In this Chapter, What is Disability? Types of Disability
The Disability Services Act (2020) defines ‘disability’ as meaning a disability:
which is attributable to an intellectual, psychiatric, cognitive, neurological, sensory or physical impairment or a combination of those impairments
which is permanent or likely to be permanent
which may or may not be of a chronic or episodic nature
which results in substantially reduced capacity of the person for communication, social interaction, learning or mobility and a need for continuing support services.
In recent years, the understanding of disability has moved away from a physical or medical perspective to one that takes into account a person’s physical, social and political context. Today, disability is understood to arise from the interaction between a person’s health condition or impairment and the multitude of influencing factors in their environment. Great strides have been made to make the world more accessible for people living with disability; however, much more work is required to meet their needs.
Types of disability
The main categories of disability are physical, sensory, psychiatric, neurological, cognitive and intellectual. Many people with disability have multiple disabilities.
A physical disability is the most common type of disability, followed by intellectual and sensory disability. Physical disability generally relates to disorders of the musculoskeletal, circulatory, respiratory and nervous systems.
Sensory disability involves impairments in hearing and vision.
Neurological and cognitive disability includes acquired disability such as multiple sclerosis or traumatic brain injury. Intellectual disability includes intellectual and developmental disability which relate to difficulties with thought processes, learning, communicating, remembering information and using it appropriately, making judgments and problem solving. Intellectual disability is the result of interaction between developmentally attributable cognitive impairment, attitudinal and environmental barriers.
How are the lives of people with disability affected?
People with disability are particularly vulnerable to deficiencies in health care services. Depending on the group and setting, persons with disability may experience greater vulnerability to secondary conditions, co-morbid conditions, age-related conditions, engaging in health risk behaviours and higher rates of premature death.
Secondary conditions
Secondary conditions occur in addition to (and are related to) a primary health condition, and are both predictable and therefore preventable. Examples include pressure ulcers, urinary tract infections, osteoporosis and pain.
Co-morbid conditions
Co-morbid conditions occur in addition to (and are unrelated to) a primary health condition associated with disability. For example the prevalence of diabetes in people with schizophrenia is around 15% compared to a rate of 2-3% for the general population.
Age-related conditions
The ageing process for some groups of people with disability begins earlier than usual. For example some people with developmental disability show signs of premature ageing in their 40s and 50s.
Engaging in health risk behaviours
Some studies have indicated that people with disability have higher rates of risky behaviours such as smoking, poor diet and physical inactivity.
Causes of disability
Some women have been disabled since birth. Some women become more disabled over time. Some women become disabled suddenly, because of an accident or disease.
It is not possible to prevent all impairments. Some babies form differently inside the womb and no one knows why.
But many disabilities in babies are caused by harmful conditions of women's lives. If women can get enough nutritious food to eat, can protect themselves from work with toxic chemicals, and can get good health care, including care at the time of childbirth, then many disabilities could be prevented.
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