Disability
Synonyms
Definition
The World Health Organization views disability not as a property of an individual person but as an interaction between features of a person’s body and their social and physical environment. Disability can exist at the level of impairments (to body structures and functions), activity limitations, and/or participation restrictions. Impairments are defined as a significant deviation or loss in body functions or structures. Activity limitations are difficulties a person has in performing activities; an activity is the execution of a task or action. Participation restrictions are problems a person experiences in involvement in life situations; participation is involvement in life situations.
Governments also define disability within antidiscrimination legislation and to provide access to government support and services. For example, in the United Kingdom, the Equality Act (2010) considers a person to have a...
References and Readings
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- Kaplan, R. M. (1990). Behavior as the central outcome in health-care. American Psychologist, 45, 1211–1220.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
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- WHO. (2001). International classification of functioning, disability and health: ICF. Geneva: Author.Google Scholar