Top Disabilities Articles – Types Of Disabilities, Advice & More

A disability is any condition that interferes with a person’s ability to perform certain activities or interact with the people around them. ⁽¹⁾ Under World Health Organization guidelines, a disability has three key dimensions. ⁽²⁾
The first is impairment or dysfunction in physical or mental functioning. Common impairments include memory loss, vision loss, and spinal cord injuries.

The second dimension of disability is activity limitation. ⁽²⁾ Some disabilities make it difficult for people to walk, hear, or see, limiting their ability to participate in certain activities. For example, a person with a severe vision impairment may not be able to watch movies with friends.

The third dimension of disability is participation restrictions. These are restrictions on normal daily activities arising from the underlying impairment. One such example is an employee who is restricted from lifting heavy objects due to their disability.

Although people with disabilities are capable of leading full and happy lives, it can be challenging to access appropriate medical care and support services. As a result, managing a disability is often stressful. Accessing care is also expensive, which may lead to added stress within the family unit. According to a 2020 report from the National Disability Institute (NDI), a household that includes an adult with a disability that limits their employment options requires an average of 28 percent more income to have the same standard of living as a household that doesn’t include any adults with disabilities. ⁽³⁾

What Are Learning Disabilities?

Learning disabilities, also called learning disorders, change the way the brain functions, which may interfere with some of the processes involved in learning. ⁽⁴⁾ Like other types of disabilities, a learning disability may cause symptoms ranging from mild to severe. In addition to affecting the way a person learns, this type of disability may make it challenging to stay organized, engage in long-term planning, or remember important things. The process of diagnosing learning disabilities can vary from person to person.

Dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia are examples of learning disabilities. People with dyslexia have deficits in their language-processing ability, making it more difficult to read. Dysgraphia affects a person’s fine motor skills, which can interfere with their ability to write neatly. Dyscalculia makes it difficult to understand numbers, affecting a person’s ability to carry out calculations such as balancing a checkbook, calculating the carpet needed to cover a surface, and performing other tasks involving math.

What Are Physical Disabilities?

A physical disability is a type of disability that limits an individual’s physical functioning. ⁽⁵⁾ Depending on the severity of the condition, a person with this type of disability may have difficulty walking, standing up straight, sitting up without assistance, or performing other movements. Some disabilities also interfere with an individual’s sense of touch. For example, a spinal cord injury may make it difficult to feel the bottoms of the feet.

Cerebral palsy (CP) and spina bifida are examples of physical disabilities. CP typically develops due to brain damage or problems with brain development. People with CP often experience muscle stiffness, which impairs coordination and balance. ⁽⁶⁾

Spina bifida is a neural tube defect or a type of congenital disability that occurs when the spinal column does not form properly during fetal development. ⁽⁵⁾ Depending on the severity of the birth defect, spina bifida may cause paralysis, muscle weakness, bladder incontinence, or other physical problems.

What Are Developmental Disabilities?

Developmental disabilities arise from impairments in behavior, language processing, learning, or physical functioning. ⁽⁷⁾ They become apparent during the process of child development and typically last into adulthood. Children need to receive regular medical care because doctors and other health care professionals are trained to determine if a child is meeting certain milestones as scheduled. If a child misses a vital milestone, their health care provider can give a referral for developmental screening. ⁽⁸⁾

A developmental disability can interfere with physical, intellectual, or both functions. ⁽⁹⁾ For example, a child with a vision impairment may have difficulty performing certain activities but not have any learning difficulties. In contrast, a developmental disability, such as autism spectrum disorder, may cause seizures, unusual eating habits, or delayed language skills. ⁽¹⁰⁾

What Are Intellectual Disabilities?

Intellectual disabilities affect two key areas of a person’s life: adaptive functioning and intellectual functioning. ⁽¹¹⁾ Adaptive functioning refers to the ability to participate in major daily life activities, such as living independently or communicating with others around them. Intellectual functioning refers to learning, solving problems, and making judgments. Learn more about the signs and symptoms of intellectual disabilities and the diagnosis of intellectual disabilities.

Deficits in adaptive functioning may be conceptual, social, or practical. In the conceptual realm, someone with an intellectual disability may have difficulty reading, doing math problems, learning new skills, or remembering important things. Social deficits interfere with a person’s communication skills and ability to form positive relationships. People with practical deficits may have trouble living independently, managing money, maintaining employment, or staying organized. Down syndrome and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder are examples of intellectual disabilities.

For people seeking treatment, there are several types of therapies for intellectual disabilities that can improve a person’s adaptive behavior skills. Get additional support resources for people with intellectual disabilities and their families.

How to Cope with a Disability Diagnosis

After receiving a disability diagnosis, building a strong support network is crucial. Therapists, social workers, and other licensed professionals are excellent resources, as they can make referrals to government agencies and non-profit organizations involved in supporting people with disabilities. Discussing the diagnosis with a trusted friend or family member. Someone with a new disability diagnosis may benefit from staying in close contact with their health care provider.

How to Help Someone with a Disability

Everyone responds differently to a disability diagnosis. If the individual needs time by themselves to process the news, family members and friends should respect their needs. Some people respond by discussing their symptoms in detail or asking for support from loved ones. Family members and friends can help by listening carefully, validating their feelings, and pledging their support. It is also helpful when loved ones offer to help with household chores and other tasks.

Sometimes, the best approach is to directly ask the person with a disability how they’d like to be helped. Communication can be key in successfully helping a friend or family member to manage a disability.