Disability

What is Disability?

In the context of employment, a Disability is a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. A major life activity is any activity that is of central importance to daily life, such as walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, caring for oneself, learning, and working.

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The definition of Disability is broad and includes both visible and invisible impairments. It can include conditions such as chronic diseases, mobility impairments, mental health conditions, and learning disabilities, among others. It also covers a temporary disability or a condition that is in remission if it would be substantially limiting when active.

Additionally, under the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) an employer should make reasonable accommodations for an employee with a disability so that they are able to perform their job unless it would impose undue hardship on the employer.

Essential Features of Disability

Here are a few essential features of Disability:

1. Physical or Mental Impairment: A disability is a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities.
2. Substantially Limits: The impairment must limit a major life activity in a substantial way. This means it cannot be minor or trivial.
3. Major Life Activities: Major life activities include activities that are of central importance to daily life, such as walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, caring for oneself, learning, and working.
4. Both Visible and Invisible: Disabilities can include both visible and invisible impairments, such as chronic diseases, mobility impairments, mental health conditions, and learning disabilities among others.
5. Accommodations: Under the American with Disabilities Act (ADA), an employer should make reasonable accommodations for an employee with a disability so that they are able to perform their job unless it would impose undue hardship on the employer.
6. Temporariness : Even a temporary disability or a condition that is in remission is considered as a disability if it would be substantially limiting when active
7. Both Physical and Emotional: Disabilities can include both physical and emotional or psychological impairments, such as depression or anxiety.

What are the types of Disabilities?

There are many different types of Disabilities, and they can be classified in different ways.

Here are a few examples of different types of Disabilities:

1. Physical Disabilities: These include impairments of the body’s systems, such as mobility impairments, chronic diseases, and spinal cord injuries.
2. Sensory Disabilities: These include impairments of the senses, such as blindness, deafness, and severe vision or hearing loss.
3. Mental Disabilities: These include impairments of cognitive and emotional functioning, such as intellectual disabilities, autism, and mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
4. Learning Disabilities: These include difficulties in specific areas of learning, such as reading, writing, or mathematics.
5. Traumatic Brain Injury: Disabilities caused by a traumatic injury to the brain, such as loss of memory or motor skills, or difficulty with speech or language.
6. Episodic Disabilities: These are impairments that are episodic in nature or in remission, such as migraine headaches or multiple sclerosis
7. Environmental Disabilities: These are caused by environmental conditions, such as respiratory issues due to air pollution.

What are the causes of Disabilities?

There are many different causes of Disabilities, and they can vary depending on the type of Disability. Some common causes of Disabilities include:

1. Genetic or Congenital Conditions: Some disabilities are caused by genetic or congenital conditions, such as Down syndrome or cerebral palsy.
2. Injury or Trauma: Some disabilities are caused by injury or trauma, such as spinal cord injury or traumatic brain injury.
3. Illness or Disease: Some disabilities are caused by illness or disease, such as multiple sclerosis or cancer.
4. Environmental Factors: Some disabilities are caused by environmental factors, such as exposure to toxins or pollutants, or lack of access to medical care.
5. Infections: Certain infections can cause disability such as meningitis, chickenpox, or rubella
6. Ageing: As people age, certain conditions may arise such as age-related macular degeneration, osteoarthritis and Parkinson’s Disease
7. Lifestyle: Some disabilities can be caused by lifestyle choices and habits, such as smoking or substance abuse