Definition of ‘disability’
Impairment
An injury, illness, or congenital condition that causes or is likely to cause a long-term effect on physical appearance and / or limitation of function within the individual that differs from the commonplace.
Disability
The loss or limitation of opportunities to take part in society on an equal level with others due to social and environmental barriers.
Disability is shown as being caused by ‘barriers’ or elements of social organisation which take no or little account of people who have impairments.
Society is shown to disable people who have impairments because the way it has been set up prevents us from taking part in everyday life.
It follows that if disabled people are to be able to join in mainstream society, the way society is organised must be changed.
Removing the barriers which exclude (and disable) people who have impairments can bring about this change.
Disability Wales is campaigning and working to remove all disabling barriers in Wales
We welcome comments on this section. Email us at DW