Am I Disabled?: A Guide to the Three Main Definitions of Disability
There are three main definitions of disability used in the United States. This is an overview of these definitions.
Defining disability is no easy feat. Definitions must be mindful of the people the definition excludes—and all definitions exclude some people—while avoiding blaming the prejudice and lack of accommodations on the disabled person.
There are three primary definitions of disability that people look to in the United States. There’s the World Health Organization’s definition, the ADA definition, and the Social Security Administration’s definition. Each definition serves a different purpose.
World Health Organization’s Definition of Disability
Here is the World Health Organization’s definition of disability. Many countries use this definition or base their definitions off of this definition.
A disability is any condition of the body or mind (impairment) that makes it more difficult for the person with the condition to do certain activities (activity limitation) and interact with the world around them (participation restrictions).
https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/disabilityandhealth/disability.html
Americans With Disabilities Act Definition of Disability
Here is the definition from the ADA:
A person with a disability is someone who:
has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities,
has a history or record of such an impairment (such as cancer that is in remission), or
is perceived by others as having such an impairment (such as a person who has scars from a severe burn).
https://www.ada.gov/topics/intro-to-ada/
It’s important to note that in this definition of disability, people who do not have a disability but are regarded as having a disability are covered by this law.
Social Security Administration’s Definition of Disability
Here is the SSA’s definition:
Definition Of Disability For Adults
“Under title II and title XVI, we consider a person disabled under Social Security rules if he or she has a medically determinable physical or mental impairment (or combination of impairments):
that prevents him or her from doing any substantial gainful activity (SGA), and
has lasted or is expected to last for a continuous period of at least 12 months, or is expected to result in death.
NOTE: The definition of disability also applies to persons applying for child’s insurance benefits based on disability before age 22 and for disability benefits payable after December 1990 as a widow(er) or surviving divorced spouse.”
https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/disability/qualify.html
The SSA’s definition is the most restrictive, and it was made that way on purpose. Unfortunately, it means people like me fall through the cracks. This definition is used to determine whether or not a person should receive disability benefits.
Delving into Disability
So many people don’t think they are impaired enough to be considered disabled, and it’s unfortunate because it keeps them from seeking the protections offered under the law, from participating in the disability community, and from using assistive technology designed with them in mind.
Let’s take another look at the World Health Organization’s definition.
“A disability is any condition of the body or mind… that makes it more difficult for the person with the condition to do certain activities… and interact with the world around them.”
Certain things count as things that make it more difficult to do certain activities or ways to interact with the world.
The World Health Organization published the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) in 2001, which helped create a common language used to identify disability.
The ICF defines categories of activities and participation, such as:
Learning and Applying Knowledge
General Tasks and Demands
Communication
Mobility
Self Care
Domestic Life
Interpersonal Interactions and Relationships
Major Life Areas
Community, Social and Civic Life
Let’s take one of the most common disabilities as an example.
A person with arthritis may wake up and struggle to get out of bed in the morning due to stiffness in their joints. They may struggle in the kitchen with preparing breakfast because opening jars and other containers may be difficult, or maybe they’ve found a workaround for their joint issues by putting the food in easy-to-open containers. Showering might be difficult, especially the act of washing one’s hair, and these are just the tasks to get ready in the morning! In terms of participation restrictions, a person with arthritis may struggle to find employment due to discrimination or prejudice, and it may be more difficult to make and keep friends due to prejudice as well.
Let’s look at another example, this time on the mental health side of things.
Anxiety is another common disability. This disability tends to affect things like community, social, and civic life, major life areas like employment, and communication. Let’s take me for an example. Because of my anxiety, I struggle with some forms of communication, primarily making phone calls. It effects my community, social, and civic life and my interpersonal interactions and relationships because it makes it difficult for me to talk to people, particularly people in positions of respect.
One thing that’s important to remember is if you are thinking to yourself, “Well, I’m not disabled, I can do xyz just fine, I found solutions for my condition(s),” disability doesn’t care about whether or not you’ve found ways to make things doable or possible. Treatment and workarounds don’t suddenly make you not disabled. What counts is what you can and can’t do without workarounds or treatment.
What’s Next?
This post has gotten quite long, so this is where I’ll end this post. This will not be the last time I cover this topic, though. If you read this post and thought, “Huh, I might be disabled,” feel free to reach out. I’d love to welcome you to the disability community.