Defining Disability

There are many non-profit organizations that help those with disabilities. The Arc is selected as number one on top non-profit working for people with disabilities for more than sixty years and is the largest national community-based organization. They serve people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, helping to support people with disabilities. Parents who have children with disabilities talk with a group of parents to discuss the problems of disabilities. Parents and The Arc want the children with disabilities have a fulfilling life, and not have a difficult time growing up. The Arc helps make changes for those people diagnosed with other ranges of disabilities. The Arc

Millions of Americans suffer from various disabling conditions every year and the number continues to grow. According to the American Community Survey (ACS) of 2015, an estimated 12.6% of the US population are with disabilities. Types of disability include vision, hearing, cognitive, ambulatory and self-care.

Throughout history the treatment of people with a disability has been unfair. In the 1800’s, people with disabilities were cared for at home by loved ones. According to __http://paul-burtner.dental.ufl.edu/oral-health-care-for-persons-with-disabilities/societys-attitude-toward-people-with-disabilities/___ “Generally speaking, prior to the late 1800’s, people with mental retardation, cerebral palsy, autism, and/or epilepsy resided at home and were cared for by their families." This is not right because they treated them like they were not living people and they were going to die in a short amount of time. Beginning in the late

From the year 1960, there have been numerous historical movements pleading for equality in the United States. Unfortunately, the the population of people who live with disabilities have been majorly excluded from these until the American Disabilities

Disability is a complex word to define. Several attempts have been made to provide simplistic definition of the word however, it just added to more confusion and misuse of what the word disability means. The American with Disabilities Act (ADA) defines disability as “a physical or mental impairment that limits one or more of the major life activities of such individual”. There are many different perspectives of what the term disability means from an administrative, clinical, or academic research perspective. The administrative definition of disability is defined as situations associated with injury, health, or physical conditions that create limitations. The clinical perspective of disability is when the ability to engage in gainful activity is reduced because of impairment when evaluated by a physician. The research perspective on disability are much more aware of the different factors associated with a disability. According to Barbara Altman, “multiple factors involved in the relationship between health, functioning, context, and the dynamics of conditions that go into the process that is ultimately labeled as disability”(Altman, 2013).

I would define disability as having an impairment that may put a certain person in a disadvantage. It might be physical or mental issues.

Those with disabilities were treated very unalike than those without a disability in the 19th Century than those in today’s world. If you had a disability you were treated unfairly and differently than others without a disability. You were not allowed to work, and you received almost all your money from public funds, like Poor Law Relief. Children and adults with disabilities were mostly dependent on medical professionals for cures and treatments. In the late 19th century, scientists, writers, and politicians began to use Darwin’s Theory of Evolution and natural selection to help with their research. They thought that they would be able to “improve the quality of the human race” by selective breeding. They argued that people with disabilities would weaken the nation and reduce “competitiveness.” Even professionals were uncertain of how to help people with disabilities, and they did not know how they would respond to certain things, so they decided to lock them away in institutions. Individuals with disabilities were hidden in institutions for almost their entire lifetime. The children and adults with disabilities went to separate schools and day centers that were made for the sole purpose of keeping

A disability is an impairment which substantially restricts the ability of an individual to perform daily activities within the range comparable to somebody the same circumstance and age. Dis ability may comprise of impairments which restrict hearing, mobility, sight & communication.

Disabilities is an umbrella term, covering impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions. An impairment is a problem in body function or structure; an activity limitation is a difficulty encountered by an individual in executing a task or action; while a participation restriction is a problem experienced by an individual in involvement in life situations (WHO disabilities). Disability is a complex phenomenon, reflecting an interaction between features of a person’s body and features of the society in which the person lives.

Disability is a concept that has been developed by a range of people with different structure thus influencing how people with disability are perceived; either as individuals who are oppressed by the structure of the society or lazy people in the society. The World Health Organisation (WHO) in the 1980s proposed the definition of four concepts; disability, complaint, impairment and handicap. These ideas are linked to individual experience. Complaint is said to link up to an impairment which further could lead to a disability and handicap. However, Brethoud, Lakey and Mckay (1993:4) defines disability as suggested by WHO as “any restriction or lack resulting from an impairment of ability to carried out some activities or daily task in a manner considered normal for a human being”. Impairment then refers to “any loss or abnormality of psychological, physiological or anatomical structure or function” (Brethoud, Lakey and Mckay 1993:4). This definition of disability emphasised on the individual as the one with the problem thus it employs the individualised model to describe this group of people.

The word disability is composed of two words dis and ability. Dis is a negative word. It means to not do. Ability means the power of doing. Hence, the word disability means to do not have the power of doing something. When it comes to the sense of medical and health, we came to know that disability means the lacking of some physical power. Some people are dumb, deaf, etc. These are the medical and health disabilities of those people.

Long ago there was great confusion over the meaning of terms such as impairment, handicap, or disability.  Then, in 1980, the WHO provided great service by offering a clear way of thinking about it all in a little book

In the olden day, children born with disabilities were hidden or even killed. Shame and guilt often followed the birth of a child with disabilities. Most people believed that the disability was the result of a family member’s sins. Although society began accepting people with disabilities as time passed, a disability was still viewed as a personal tragedy. Many children were denied access to education and opportunities to learn. In 1967, 200,000 persons with disabilities resided in state institutions. Many of these restrictive settings provided only minimal food, clothing, and shelter. These institutions did not have the individuals with a disability assessed, educated, or rehabilitated. In 1970, U.S. public schools educated only one in five children with disabilities. Many states had laws excluding certain students, including children who were deaf, blind, emotionally disturbed, or mentally retarded. (Archived: 25 Year History of the IDEA)

In this report, the Medical and Social Models of disability are explained, the relevance of both and their importance in society. My own personal views on both are contained throughout and within the conclusion, based on research, referenced and listed in the bibliography.

conditions namely (1) Total absence of sight (2)Visual acuity not exceeding 6/60 or 20/200 in