Disability and its faces

Disability is a broad term, covering a wide range of topics including impairments, limitation of activities and restriction of participation. Impairment is a physical problem with proper functioning of body parts; limitation of activities is a difficulty encountered by an individual in executing a task or action; while restriction of participation is a problem experienced by an individual getting involved in life situations. It describes as alteration in a person's ability to function, caused by changes in various subsystems of the body or to mental health.
For example, a three-year-old child who is not able to walk has a disability because a normal three-year-old can walk independently. Handicap is the term used to describe a child or adult who, because of the disability, is unable to achieve the normal role in the society commensurate with his/her age and socio-cultural milieu.
As an example, a sixteen-year-old person who is unable to care for his own sanitation or hygiene is handicapped. On the other hand, a sixteen-year-old who can walk only with the assistance of crutches but who attends a regular school and is fully independent in activities of daily living is disabled but not handicapped.
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.
Some note that women who are disabled face what is called a "double disability", meaning they must not only deal with the stereotypes and challenges posed by femininity, but they also deal with those posed by being disabled. Culture also tends to view women as fragile and weaker than men, stereotypes which are only heightened when a woman has a disability.
There are two models of disability — medical and social. The medical model is presented as viewing disability as a problem of the person, directly caused by disease, trauma or other health conditions which therefore requires sustained medical care provided in the form of individual treatment by professionals. The social model of disability underscores the issue of disability as a socially created problem and a matter of full integration of individuals into society. Experts suggest that the best model is the one that address health and social issues people with disability face.

The write up is compiled by M Nurun Nabi, Developments Activist and Poet.
E-mail: mnnabi.watsan@yahoo.com