Impairment Disability and Handicap The word impairment disability

“Impairment, ” “Disability, ” and “Handicap, ”

• The word “impairment, ” “disability, ” and “handicap, ” are very common words, each having different meanings. • Impairment, disability and handicap are all related to conditions that make it hard or impossible for an individual to function in a normal capacity and the effect of those conditions.

Impairment • Simply we can say that Impairment is the abnormality itself, it is the weakness or damage of the organ. • Impairment is a loss or abnormality of psychological, physiological, or anatomical structure or function. • 'Impairment' is concerned with the abnormalities of body structure and appearance or of organ and system functioning, resulting from any cause.

• Impairments are disturbances at the level of the organ which include defects in or loss of a limb, organ or other body structure, as well as defects in or loss of a mental function. • Examples of impairments include blindness, deafness, paralysis of a limb, amputation of a limb; mental retardation etc.

Disability • Disability: any restriction or lack (resulting from an impairment) of the ability to perform an activity in the manner or within the range considered normal for a human being. • Disability' is the functional consequence of impairment.

• Disability is the term used to define a restriction in the ability to perform a normal activity of daily living which someone of the same age is able to perform. • “Disability” means the lack of ability to perform an activity in a manner that is considered to be normal.

Handicap • Handicap is a social construct / concept. • 'Handicap' relates to the disadvantages experienced in society by the individual, as a result of his/her disability. • It is basically society and the physical environment what makes people handicapped. • A handicap is a "disadvantage for a given individual, resulting from an impairment or disability, that limits or prevents the fulfillment of a role that is normal, (depending on age, sex and social and cultural factors) for that individual".

• Examples of handicaps include being restricted or confined / limited to home; being unable to use public transport; being socially isolated. • It is evident from the definitions above that a handicap is the result both of an impairment and of environmental conditions. • If environmental barriers are taken away, the person will still be impaired, but not necessarily handicapped.

• Simply we can say that, impairment refers to a problem with a structure or organ of the body; disability is a functional limitation with regard to a particular activity; and handicap refers to a disadvantage in filling a role in life.

Conclusion • All disabled people are impaired, and all handicapped people are disabled, • but a person can be impaired and not necessarily be disabled, and a person can be disabled without being handicapped.

Thanks