DISABILITY IN ENGLISH
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zf73EeBJnDo
DISABILITY-
Disability is a condition that makes it
difficult for a person to do certain activities effectively. A person is
considered to have a disability if he or she has limitation in performance or
function in everyday activities, difficulty in talking, hearing, seeing,
walking, climbing stairs, lifting or carrying objects, performing ADLs, doing
school work, or working at a job.
According to the WHO, -
Disability is an umbrella
term for impairments, activity limitations, participation restrictions, and
environmental factors, and impairment is a loss or abnormality in body
structure or physiologic function, including mental function.
The term handicap was used previously to
identify those circumstances in which the environment played a role in limiting
the participation of people with disabilities in activities. This is no longer
included in the revised WHO classification system: “International
Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health-2001”
CATEGORIES OF DISABILITY-
Disabilities can be categorized
(classified) as-
Developmental disabilities,-
Developmental disabilities are those
that occur any time from birth to 22 years of age and result in impairment of
physical or mental health, cognition, speech, language, or self-care.
Developmental disability also includes congenital anomalies leading to
disability.
Some developmental disabilities occur as
a result of birth trauma or severe illness or injury at a very young age,
whereas many developmental disabilities are genetic in origin. Examples of
developmental disabilities are spina bifida, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, and
muscular dystrophy.
Acquired disabilities, -
Acquired disabilities may occur as a
result of an acute and sudden injury such as traumatic brain injury, spinal
cord injury and traumatic amputation.
Acute non traumatic disorders such as
stroke, myocardial infarction
Progression of a chronic disorder such
as arthritis, multiple sclerosis and blindness due to diabetic retinopathy.
Age-associated disabilities-
Age-related disabilities are those that
occur in the elderly population and are thought to be due to the aging process.
Examples of age-related disabilities
include osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, visual disturbances and hearing loss.
TYPES OF DISABILITY-
Types of disability are classified in
different ways for different countries but basically they are same. In India
they are clearly described in the notification under the Rights of person with
disability (RPWD) Act 2016.
1. Blindness-Blindness is defined as the state of being sightless. It includes any one
of the following-
(i) total absence of sight; or
(ii) visual acuity less than 3/60 in the better eye with best possible
correction; or
(iii) limitation of the field of vision
subtending an angle of less than 10 degree
2. Low-vision-Low-vision means a condition where a person has any of the following
conditions-
(i) visual acuity not exceeding
6/18 or less than 20/60,and upto
3/60 in the better eye with best possible corrections; or
(ii) limitation of the field of
vision subtending an angle of less than 40 degree up to 10 degree.
3. Hearing
Impairment-Hearing impairment is a partial
or total inability to hear. It is
sub-divided in two categories of deaf and hard of
hearing.
“Deaf” means persons having 70 dB hearing loss in speech frequencies in both
ears.
“Hard of hearing” means person having 60 dB to 70 dB hearing loss in speech frequencies
in both ears.
4. Leprosy Cured
Persons-Leprosy, also known as Hansen’s disease (HD), is a chronic infectious disease
caused by a bacteria called Mycobacterium leprae. It may cause
deformity of hand and foot and become a disability for the patient.
5. Locomotor Disability- Locomotor Disability means problem in moving from one place to another
such as disability in legs. But, in general, it is taken as a disability
related with bones, joints and muscles. It causes problems in person’s
movements like walking, picking or holding things in hand etc.
6. Dwarfism-Dwarfism is a growth disorder characterized by shorter than average body
height.
7. Intellectual
Disability-Intellectual disability, also
known as general learning disability and mental retardation (MR). This condition
is characterized by significant limitation both in intellectual functioning
(reasoning, learning, problem solving) and in adaptive behaviour which covers a
range of every day, social and practical skills.
8. Mental Illness-Mental illness or mental disorder is also known asdisorder of thinking, mood, perception, orientation or memory that grossly
impairs judgment, behaviourand capacity to recognize reality or ability to meet
the ordinary demands of life.
9. Autism Spectrum Disorder-Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurological and developmental disorder
which affects communication and behaviour.Autism affects the overall cognitive,
emotional, social and physical health of the affected individual.
10. Cerebral Palsy-Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a disabling physical condition in which muscle
coordination is impaired due to damage to the brain. It occurs at or before
child birth. Cerebral Palsy is a non-progressive condition; meaning it does not
get worse with time. Cerebral palsy affectsbody movements and muscle
coordination.
11. Muscular
Dystrophy - Muscular Dystrophy (MD) is a
group of neuromuscular genetic disorders that cause muscle weakness and overall
loss of muscle mass. People with muscular dystrophy have
incorrect and missing information in their genes, which prevents them from
making the proteins they need for healthy muscles. Muscular Dystrophy is a progressive condition; meaning that it gets worse
with the passage of time.
12. Chronic Neurological
Conditions-
Chronic Neurological Conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease and
Dementia, Parkinson’s disease, Dystonia, Huntington’s disease, Neuromuscular
disease, Multiple sclerosis, Epilepsy, Stroke also leads to disabilities.
13. Specific Learning Disabilities- these are a
group of conditions wherein there is a deficit in processing language, spoken
or written, that may manifest itself as a difficulty to comprehend, speak,
read, write, spell, or to do mathematical calculations and includes such
conditions as perceptual disabilities, dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia,
dyspraxia and developmental aphasia.
14. Multiple Sclerosis- In Multiple
Sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disorder, the immune system of body attacks the
Central Nervous System. As a result of MS, the myelin sheath covering
on neurons gets damaged. This exposes the nerve fibers and causes problems in
the information flow through nerves. With time, MS can cause permanent damage
to nerves.
15. Speech and Language Disability - A permanent disability arising out of
conditions such as laryngectomy or aphasia affecting one or more components of
speech and language due to organic or neurological causes.
16. Thalassemia- Thalassemia is
a genetically inherited blood disorder which is characterized by the production
of less or abnormal hemoglobin. Thalassemia results in large numbers of red
blood cells being destroyed, which leads to anemia. As a result of anemia,
person affected with Thalassemia will have pale skin, fatigue and dark
coloration of urine. The patient needs periodic blood transfusions.
17. Haemophilia- Haemophilia is a blood disorder characterized
by the lack of blood clotting factors. In the absence of these proteins,
bleeding goes on for a longer time than normal. Due to bleeding patient becomes
anaemic which affects his daily life badly.
18. Sickle Cell Disease- Sickle Cell
Disease is a group of blood disorders that causes red blood cells (RBCs) to
become sickle-shaped. The oxygen-carrying capacity of such abnormal RBCs reduce
significantly. It is a genetically transferred disease. Red Blood Cells contain
a protein called haemoglobin that binds oxygen and carry it to all the parts of
the body.
19. Multiple Disabilities including Deaf-blindness- Multiple Disabilities is the simultaneous occurrence of two or more
disabling conditions ( example deafness and blindness) that affect
learning or other important life functions. These disabilities could be a
combination of both motor and sensory nature.
20. Acid Attack Victims- An acid
attack victim means a person disfigured due to violent assaults by throwing of
acid or similar corrosive substance. This
disfigurement may include any body part such as mount hand leg etc.
21. Parkinson’s disease- Parkinson’s
disease (PD) is Central Nervous System disorder which affects movement.
Parkinson’s disease is characterized by tremors and stiffness. It is a
progressive disease, which means that it worsens with time.
Disability:
Need for special care / management-
Ø People with disability need special care. One of the major goals of nursing
today should be the prevention of disabilities and the care of people with
disability.
Ø This requires promoting healthy lifestyles and encouraging the use of
safety and disease prevention measures
Ø Teaching strategies and teaching materials should be adapted to the
individual patient, so that the patient and family can understand and follow
recommendations from health care providers
Ø We must understand that chronic illness management is a collaborative
process between the patient, family, nurse, and other health care providers.
Ø We should also understand that people with disabilities have the right of
access to health care that is equal in quality to that of other people.
Ø All clinics, hospital rooms, offices, restrooms, laboratories, and imaging facilities should
be accessible to people with disabilities.
Ø While
providing care do not make assumptions about what a person can and cannot do.
Do not push a person’s wheelchair or grab the arm of someone walking with
difficulty without first asking if he or she needs assistance.
Ø When
speaking for more than a few minutes to a person who is seated in a wheelchair,
try to find a seat for yourself, so that the two of you are at eye level.
Ø When
giving directions to people with mobility limitations, consider distance,
weather conditions, and physical obstacles such as stairs, curbs, and steep
hills.
Ø It is
appropriate to touch the person’s arm lightly when you speak to a visual
disable person so that he or she knows to whom you are speaking before you
begin.
Ø Face
the visual disable person and speak directly to him or her. Use a normal tone
of voice and do not leave without saying that you are leaving.
Ø While
communicating with hearing disable person, make sure you have the attention of
the person you are addressing. A wave, a light touch on the arm or shoulder, or
other visual or tactile signals are appropriate ways of getting the person’s
attention.
Ø When
giving directions to people with mobility limitations, consider distance,
weather conditions, and physical obstacles such as stairs, curbs, and steep
hills.
Ø It is
appropriate to touch the person’s arm lightly when you speak to a visual
disable person so that he or she knows to whom you are speaking before you
begin.
Ø Talk
to people with speech disabilities as you would talk to anyone else. Be
friendly; start up a conversation. Be patient; it may take the person a while
to answer. Allow extra time for communication.
Ø Speak
in your regular tone of voice. Keep your manner encouraging rather than
correcting.
Ø Careful
planning with patients to ensure that the hospital room is arranged with their
input enables them to manage as independently as possible.
Ø Health
education classes on nutrition and weight management are extremely important to
people who are wheelchair users and need assistance with transfers.
