What is Disability ?

What is Disability ?

 

A disability is a functional limitation or restriction of an individual's ability to perform an activity. A disability becomes a "handicap" because of environmental or attitudinal barriers that limit the opportunity for a person to participate fully. Negative attitudes or inaccessible entrances to buildings are examples of handicaps.

 

“Disability is a socially created problem and not an attribute of an individual”.

  

Who is Disabled ?

 

According to the Persons with Disabilities (PWD) Act, 1995, "Disability" includes :-

  • Blindness;

  • Low vision;

  • Leprosy-cured;

  • Hearing impairment;

  • Loco motor disability;

  • Mental retardation; and

  • Mental illness;

 

The PWD Act (1995) further defines a "person with disability" as suffering from not less than forty per cent of any disability as certified by a medical authority

 

The PWD Act is currently under legislative review. The new definition of disability will include persons with any impairment that has a 'substantial and long-term adverse effect' on the ability of a person to carry out normal day-to-day activities. This new defination will also include people diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes, Cancer, HIV and also persons affected by disabilities listed in the 1995 act who have less than 40% disability.


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