What is a Disability?
There is no perfect or concise way to define Disability. The medical community typically defines a Disability as a condition that impacts acts of daily living. In a social context, having a Disability could be seen as existing outside of global and cultural norms, or it could mean being unable to access spaces and activities that others can. Culturally, Disability can be defined simply as human variation, or as experiencing, approaching, or navigating life in a way that falls on a diverse spectrum outside of the cultural default.
Some people use Disabled or Person with a Disability (PWD) as an identity label, while others do not. Many communities and conditions can fall within the Disability community, including but not limited to those listed here:
- Autism Spectrum Disorder, Aspie & Related communities
- Chronic Health Conditions & The Spoonie community
- Crip Culture
- Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities
- Invisible & Visible Disabilities
- Learning Disabilities (Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, Dysgraphia, Processing Disorders, etc)
- Mental Health Conditions (Depression, Anxiety, Bipolar Disorder, etc.)
- Mobility Aid & Wheelchair Users
- Physical Disabilities
- Service Dog Handlers
- The Blind, Low Vision, & Visually Impaired community
- The Deaf & Hard of Hearing community
- The Neurodiversity community
- Tic Disorders
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Trauma and Stress Related Disorders
For more information on definitions and more in-depth discussion, please visit the following sites:
- Moving Toward the Ugly: A Politic Beyond Desirability | Leaving Evidence (wordpress.com) – An article by Mia Mingus diving into the difference between descriptively and politically disabled.
- Disability Terminology – A collection of common terminology in the disability community compiled by B4A members.