Groups in Context People with Disabilities

Definition Disability means: a. total or partial loss of a person’s bodily or mental functions or of a part of a person’s body, or b. the presence in a person’s body of organisms causing or capable of causing disease or illness, or c. the malfunction, malformation or disfigurement of a part of a person’s body, or d. a disorder or malfunction that results in a person learning differently from a person without the disorder or malfunction, or e. a disorder, illness or disease that affects a person’s thought processes, perception of reality, emotions or judgment or that results in disturbed behaviour. Source: Anti discrimination Act 1977 A person is eligible for the Disability Support Pension of they have a physical, intellectual or psychiatric impairment which prevents them from working, or for people who are permanently blind. Source: Centrelink

Definition The WHO (World Health Organisation) defines disability as a restriction or lack of ability to perform activities in the manner or within the range considered normal for human beings. Be physically or intellectually disadvantaged Can have difficulty communicating and interacting May find it hard to function independently People will have different barriers, depending on the type and extend of the disability Often individual requires assistance or carer. Examples include: difficulty seeing, hearing, moving, grasping, eating and bathing.

Refer to the acronym PIPS to remember types of disabilities: P = Physical (spina bifida, stroke) I = Intellectual (Down syndrome, foetal alcohol syndrome) P = Psychological ( depression, bipolar) S = Sensory (hearing or visually impaired)

Prevalence The proportion of people with disabilities is growing due to the aging population. Over 4 million Australians have a disability. That's 1 in 5 people. 1 in 3 people either has disability or is likely to be close to someone who has disability. 2.1 million Australians of working age (15 – 64 years) have disability.

Diversity People with disabilities can come from any race, gender, educational or socioeconomic group. They may suffer from multiple disabilities. Some disabilities are genetic, some are acquired. Disabilities may be temporary or permanent. Disabilities may be mild or severe. The concept of diversity means understanding that each person is unique and recognising individual differences.

Terminology A range of terminology can be used to describe the disabled – some positive, some negative: PositiveNegative Person with a disability‘Disabled’ person Person living with bipolarA ‘sufferer’ of bipolar Person using a wheelchair‘Confined’ to a wheelchair Referring to those without a disability as ‘normal and healthy’ can be offensive Referring to the disabled as ‘brave’, ‘special’, ‘courageous’, can be seen as patronising ‘Accessible’ parking spots‘Disabled’ parking spots