Understanding Disability Definitions and Classifications

Disability Definition

• Over 1 billion people experience disability globally, representing 15% of the world's population
• In Turkey, 12.29% of the population, or roughly 190 million people aged 15 and older, have significant difficulties with functioning, requiring healthcare services.
• The number of people with disabilities is rising due to increased chronic health conditions and an aging population
• People with disabilities face barriers, stigma, and discrimination when accessing health and health-related services.
• Disability is a development priority due to its high prevalence in lower-income countries and its connection to poverty.

Classification of Disabilities

• Types of disabilities include physical and mental impairments affecting daily activities.
• Classifications of Disabilities:
  • Mobility and Physical Impairments:
    • Upper and lower limb disabilities, manual dexterity issues, and coordination problems
    • Can be inborn, acquired with age, or caused by illness or injury, such as a broken bone
  • Spinal Cord Disability:
    • Spinal cord injuries (SCI) can lead to lifelong disabilities, often resulting from accidents.
    • Injuries can be complete or incomplete, affecting messages conveyed by the spinal cord.
    • Birth defects can also cause spinal cord disability.
  • Head Injuries - Brain Disability:
    • Brain injuries can range in severity from mild to severe.
    • Mental health impairments encompass psychiatric problems or illnesses:
    • Personality disorders: deeply ingrained patterns of behavior causing significant impairment
    • Schizophrenia: characterized by disruptions in thinking, mood, and behavior
  • Invisible Disabilities:
    • 10% of people in the U.S. have a medical condition categorized as an invisible disability.
    • These conditions are not immediately apparent to others.

Causes of Disability

• Conditions present at birth:
  • Can affect functions later in life, including cognition, mobility, vision, hearing, and behavior.
  • These conditions may be caused by:
    • Single gene disorders (e.g., Duchenne muscular dystrophy)
    • Chromosome disorders (e.g., Down syndrome)
    • Maternal exposure to infections (e.g., rubella) or substances during pregnancy (e.g., alcohol or cigarettes)
• Developmental conditions apparent during childhood:
  • Examples: autism spectrum disorder and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
• Injuries:
  • Examples: traumatic brain injury (TBI) or spinal cord injury (SCI).
• Longstanding conditions:
  • Example: diabetes, which can cause disabilities like vision loss, nerve damage, or limb loss.
• Progression of conditions:
  • Progressive (e.g., muscular dystrophy)
  • Static (e.g., limb loss)
  • Intermittent (e.g., some forms of multiple sclerosis)

Activity and Participation

• The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) includes:
  • Learning and applying knowledge
  • Managing tasks and demands
  • Mobility: moving the body, handling objects, using transportation
  • Managing self-care tasks
  • Managing domestic life
  • Interpersonal relationships and interactions
  • Major life areas: education, employment, finances
  • Community, social, and civic engagement

Types of Disabilities

• Disability is not a disease, but a health condition limiting life.
• Permanent Disabilities: Conditions individuals are not expected to recover from.
• Temporary Disabilities: Illnesses or injuries preventing participation in routine activities
• Functional Decline: Disability is often measured by limitations in daily activities, categorized as:
  • Limitations in Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)
  • Limitations in Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs)

Outcomes

• People with disabilities can lead healthy lifestyles.
• Disability Inclusion:
  • Including people with disabilities in daily activities.
  • Providing accommodations to reduce activity limitations and participation restrictions.

Explore the global significance of disabilities, including statistics on prevalence and the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities. This quiz covers various types of disabilities, their classifications, and the barriers to accessing healthcare services. Gain a deeper understanding of the importance of addressing disability as a development priority.