What is Disability?

 What is disability?

Over one billion people worldwide experience some form of disability.

According to the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth) disability is defined as:

(a)  total or partial loss of the person’s bodily or mental functions; or

                     (b)  total or partial loss of a part of the body; or

                     (c)  the presence in the body of organisms causing disease or illness; or

                     (d)  the presence in the body of organisms capable of causing disease or illness; or

                     (e)  the malfunction, malformation or disfigurement of a part of the person’s body; or

                      (f)  a disorder or malfunction that results in the person learning differently from a person without the disorder or malfunction; or

   (g)  a disorder, illness or disease that affects a person’s thought processes, perception of reality, emotions or judgment or that results in disturbed behaviour;

and includes a disability that:

                     (h)  presently exists; or

                      (i)  previously existed but no longer exists; or

                      (j)  may exist in the future (including because of a genetic predisposition to that disability); or

                     (k)  is imputed to a person

.Some individuals with a disability experience greater challenges in participating in everyday life. This includes challenges involving:

  • Employment

  • Accessing the physical environment

  • Appropriate housing

  • Violence

  • Schooling restrictions

  • Social Support

  • Isolation

  • Communication

  • Transportation

For information regarding disability please refer to the resources listed below.

https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/disability/people-with-disability-in-australia/contents/about-this-report/defining-disability

https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2018C00125

https://pwd.org.au/