Physically Challenged

Medical professionals, educational psychologists and other suitably qualified specialists can diagnose the conditions usually associated with disability (including diseases, sight and hearing impairments, significant mobility difficulty, and mental health conditions or learning difficulties), but ultimately it is only a court who can decide if an individual is defined as disabled under UK law (Equality and Human Rights Commission, 2014).

The amount of people who live with disabilities is a controversial number. Depending on what law and diagnostic tools used, a person may have a visible disability, or one that may lie beneath the surface of his or her appearance. Some people believe that the term “disability” is merely a label use to hold back, or prescribe helplessness. Meanwhile, individuals who have been properly diagnosed with disabilities struggle to maintain respect and acceptance every day. In plain language, there is a lot of misunderstanding between people with disabilities and those without. It is firstly important to get everyone on the same page regarding the definition of disability.

Disabled. Disabled is a word commonly defined as being physically or mentally impaired, injured, or incapacitated (dictionary.com). There's a stigma over the word disabled with its negative connotation. Nancy Mairs, author of “I Am a Cripple, dislikes this word because she thinks that the English language incorporates too many euphemism in our speech. Mairs wants people to use more straightforward language, even if it might be offensive to others. In “ I Am a Cripple”, Mairs eloprates on how she became disabled from the disease multiple sclerosis or (M.S). M.S., a disease that attacks the central nervous system and often disables or cripples the person who has this disease. To describe her first symptoms of M.S.(infinitive phrase) Mairs flashbacks to when she was in college. Also how some days she wishes she was not disabled. Allusions in Nancy Mairs’s “I Am a Cripple” provide a deeper understanding of her complex feelings of having M.S.

Disability is a definition of a physical or mental condition which impacts on a person’s movements, activities and senses. People with disabilities were informed of bias and disadvantages compared to an ordinary person. There are many biases and prejudices contributed to the discrimination of individuals with a disability. Partly because of social connotations the disabled people are useless, cannot work. In fact, these extraordinary people always bring and do incredible things. They not only overcome their grim fate, but also bring good things to life, especially those who are perfectly considering better than an ordinary person, they are not aware of the capacity of individuals disabilities with them characteristics such as loyalty, dedication, and hard work.

Since they are not able to move on their own, people with these disabilities often rely upon devices such as wheelchairs, crutches, canes, and artificial limbs. A physical disability may either be hereditary or a side-effect of an injury. Diseases can also cause physical disability: muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, amputation, heart disease, pulmonary disease and many more There are some disabilities that cause people to not function normally, but that other people cannot see. Some examples of these “invisible” diseases include pulmonary disease, respiratory disorders, epilepsy and other limiting conditions. While we may not know how we can help these people, there are certainly many different ways to makes physically disabled people welcome.

Looking back in the past, there have been many features, and true definitions of the word disability. In the 1970s a group called the Union of the Physically Impaired Against Segregation defined disability as the disadvantage or restriction of activity cased by social organizations. U.S disability activists made efforts during the 1970s to form different alliances with the disability community, that protested for the inclusion of disability discrimination under the Rehabilitation act. Thereafter there was a medial model at looking at disability, that views disability as an individual shortfall. In

The lack of accessibility is crippling for physically disabled people. This often leads to isolation and depression. Many disabled people have to move to big city to have the accommodations they need (special doctors, accommodating transportation, disabled friendly activities, etc.). The cost of living in these cities is so high that on top of therapy

A disability is a condition of impairment--a physical or mental condition--that limits a person’s activities or functioning. Handicap is used when legally specifying life processes or social activities that adversely affect a person’s functioning. A handicap is much more limiting than a disability.

Disability is when a child or young person has special education needs, which stands for SEN. The children's and families act 2014 states that "If she or he has a learning disability which calls for special educational provision to be made for him or her".

Disability in a socio-cultural context can be defined as "a barrier to participation of people with impairments or chronic illnesses arising from an interaction of the impairment or illness with discriminatory attitudes, cultures, policies or institutional practices" (Booth, 2000). The traditional view of disability often focuses on the individual, highlighting incapacities or failings, a defect, or impairment. This focus creates obstacles to participation on equal terms since an individual who seems to lack certain capacities may not be able to attain autonomy.

It represents a commitment by all levels of government, industry and the community to a unified, national approach to policy and program development. This new approach will assist in addressing the challenges faced by people with disability, both now and into the future. (dss.gov.au)

    A person with a disability, or handicap, can be defined as someone with a physical or mental impairment, which has a substantial or long-term adverse affect on his or her ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities (Employment 2). Handicap workers face many challenges in the work place that the average person overlooks. Also, many special arrangements and alterations have been made to the workplace for people with handicaps. Accessibility, transportation, workload, and salary are just some of the many issues that must be considered with the prospect of employing the handicap.

This is exemplified in the World Health Organisation definition of impairment, disability and handicap. Impairment is a physiological, psychological or anatomical abnormality, while disability is the abnormality in terms of activity and handicap is the inability to fill a normal role due to the impairment. (reference required-1) Notice the emphasis on normality and the specified cause of the

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.

“For purposes of nondiscrimination laws (e.g. the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Section 188 of the Workforce Investment Act), a person with a disability is generally defined as someone who (1) has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more "major life activities," (2) has a record of such an impairment, or (3) is regarded as having such an