Through this page, your questions about disability will be answered.
What is disability?
Disability is defined as: a mental or physical condition that makes it difficult for the affected person to perform certain activities and interact with the world around them. Some disabilities may be hidden and not apparent. These disabilities do not show up immediately and affect a person’s performance in ways that are not outwardly noticeable, such as dyslexia, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and others.
It makes it difficult for the affected person to perform certain activities.
What are the types of disability?
There are many types, and they include:
- Mobility impairment
- Visual impairment
- Cognitive impairment
- Memory impairment
- Communication impairment
- Learning disability
- Hearing impairment
- Mental health disability
And these disabilities are classified according to their impact:
- Impairment in body structure, function, or mental performance, such as the loss of a limb, vision loss, or memory loss.
- It hinders activity, such as difficulty walking, hearing, seeing, or solving problems.
- It hinders participation in regular daily activities, such as taking part in social recreational activities, working, or accessing preventive services and healthcare.
What are the factors that cause disability?
The causes of disability vary and may be related to:
Conditions since birth, which may affect certain functions later, and include cognition (memory, learning, and understanding), movement and mobility, vision, hearing, and others. These conditions may be:
- Single gene disorders such as “Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD).”
- Chromosome disorders such as “Down Syndrome.”
- A result of the mother being exposed during pregnancy to an infection such as “Rubella” or substances such as “smoking or alcohol.”
- Developmental conditions that appear during childhood, such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
- Injury, such as a spinal cord injury or a brain injury.
- A chronic condition, such as Diabetes, which in turn may cause a disability like “vision loss, nerve damage, or loss of limbs.”
- Progressive conditions, such as “muscular dystrophy,” or static/stable ones, such as “loss of a limb,” or intermittent ones, such as “some forms of multiple sclerosis.”
What are the health challenges associated with disability?
People with disabilities are often more prone to preventable health problems that result from a specific type of disability, that is, a secondary condition caused by the disability. These conditions include:
- Bowel and bladder problems.
- Fatigue: “The constant feeling of tiredness and lack of energy”.
- Injuries such as accidental accidents.
- Mental health problems such as depression.
- Overweight and obesity.
- Pain, which can be chronic or short-term.
- Pressure sores, “bedsores”, result from being bedridden or using a wheelchair continuously.
What are the misconceptions about disability?
- Disability hinders happiness and the enjoyment of life. Many people with disabilities live lives full of experiences and remarkable achievements in various fields.
- People with disabilities rely completely on others. In reality, many individuals with disabilities can be independent and adapt to performing daily activities on their own, with the appropriate support available.
- Not all disabilities affect the same areas. People with disabilities do not face the same challenges and difficulties; each person has different experiences and challenges, even if they share the same type of disability.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the effect of disability on mental health?
All people, including those with disabilities, can experience feelings of isolation from others, low self-esteem, depression, or even anxiety and stress. Mental health is extremely important, so it is essential to talk to others about these feelings and consult a mental health professional.
What is the role of healthcare for people with disabilities?
The best possible services and healthcare should be provided to people with disabilities to help maintain their health and identify treatable health problems associated with the disability.
