Disability

     What  are disabilities? 

     Disabilities  fall into three categories, learning disabilities, physical disabilities and people with a mental 
     health difficulties,  our group is for  people with physical disabilities. 
     
     How is a physical disability legally defined?


     Equality  and Human Rights Commission state (2007)
     The Disability  Discrimination Act says a disabled person is someone with ‘a physical or mental  impairment 
     which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on his ability  to carry out normal day-to-day activities’.
     Examples include  cancer, diabetes, multiple sclerosis and heart conditions; hearing or sight  impairments, or 
     a significant mobility difficulty; and mental health conditions  or learning difficulties. People in these 
     circumstances and some others (such  as people with a facial disfigurement) are likely to have rights under the  
     Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) to protect them from discrimination.  However, only the courts can say if a
     particular individual is defined as  disabled under the legislation.
     
     The Open University(2006), in common with many other  organisations, expresses the view that there 
     are two models of disability.The  Medical Model and the Social Model.

     The medical model 
     Under the medical model, disabled people are defined by their illness or medical condition.The medical model 
     promotes the view of a disabled person as dependent and   needing to be cured or cared for, and it justifies 
     the way in which disabled   people have been systematically excluded from society. The disabled person is   
     the problem, not society. Control resides firmly with professionals; choices for the individual are limited to 
     the options provided and approved by the 'helping' expert.  

     The social model
     The social model has been developed by disabled people in response to the   medical model and the impact it 
     has had on their lives. Under the social model, disability is caused by the society in which we live   and is not 
     the ‘fault’ of an individual disabled person, or an inevitable   consequence of their limitations. Disability is the 
     product of the physical,   organisational and attitudinal barriers present within society, which lead to 
     discrimination. The removal of discrimination requires a change of approach and   thinking in the way in 
     which society is organised.

     Can all disabilities be seen?
     No not  all disabilities can be seen, most people with disabilities walk amongst us  without any outward sign 
     of a disability. It is a fact that a lot of people do not know they have a disability. 
     If I acquire an impairment which disables me, who can I  contact for information on my specific disability?
     Here is a list of some impairments and their respective  websites.

 }    One of the first places to look would be NHS direct www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk
 }    Addison disease www.addisons.org.uk 
 }    Alzheimer's disease www.alzscot.org 
 }  Arthritis care, Reiter's syndrome or Tumor Necrosis Factor www.arthritiscare.org.uk
 }    Ataxia www.ataxia.org.uk
 }    Behcet's disease or Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease www.behcets.org.uk 
 }    Brain tumors or back and neck pain www.brainandspine.org.uk 
   }  Cancers www.cancerresearchuk.org
 }    Cerebral palsy www.scope.org.uk
 }  Chest, heart and stroke Scotland www.chss.org.uk 
 }  If my child was Disabled www.cafamily.org.uk 
 }  Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease www.brainandspine.org.uk 
 }  Crohn's disease www.nacc.org.uk 
 }    Cystic fibrosis www.cftrust.org.uk 
 }    Deafness or Hearing impaired www.bda.org.uk or for deaf action www.deafsociety.org  
 }    Diabetes www.diabetes.org.uk 
 }    Epilepsy www.enlighten.org.uk 
 }    Glomerulonephritis www.kidney.org.uk 
 }    Exophthalmos www.rnib.org.uk
 }    Fibromylagia www.ukfibromyalgia.com/ or http://www.fibromyalgia-associationuk.org/ 
 }    Hepatitis www.haemophilia.org.uk or www.hepc.nhs.uk/ 
 }    Hip Replacement  www.hipreplacement.co.uk
 }    Huntington’s Disease www.hda.org.uk
 }    HIV or AIDS www.avert.org or www.tht.org.uk
 }    Hyperhidrosis www.sweating.co.uk } Joint Mobility and Hypermobility
 }    people with visual impairments and physical disabilities www.jcmbps.org.uk 
 }    Kidney dialysis or failure www.kidney.org.uk 
 }  Kyphosis  www.spineuniverse.com
 }    Lupus or Systemic lupus erythematosus www.lupusuk.com/ 
 }    Marfan syndrome www.marfan.org 
 }    ME also Myalgic Encephalomyelitis or Chronic Fatigue syndrome www.afme.org.uk
 }  Myasthenia gravis www.mgauk.org
 }    Myocardial Infarction or Heart attack www.heartsforlife.co.uk
 }  Motor neurone disease www.scotmnd.org.uk 
 }  Multiple sclerosis www.mssocietyscotland.org.uk  
 }  Narcolepsy www.narcolepsy.org.uk
 }  Osteoarthritis www.ukmi.nhs.uk
 }  Osteoporosis www.nos.org.uk
 }    Paget’s disease www.paget.org.uk/
 }  Parkinsons disease www.parkinsons.org.uk/ 
 }    Polymyalgia rheumatica www.arc.org.uk
 }    Respite care contact social.work@midlothian.gov.uk 
 }    Restricted growth or Rickets www.restrictedgrowth.co.uk
 }    Rheumatoid arthritis www.rheumatoid.org.uk
 }    Seasonal affective disorder www.sada.org.uk
 }    Sjogren's syndrome www.bssa.uk.net 
 }    Slipped disc www.backcare.org.uk
 }    Spina bifida www.asbah.org
 }    Spinal injuries association www.spinal.co.uk 
 }    Spinal muscular atrophy www.curesma.org
 }    Tourette's syndrome www.tsa.org.uk
 }    Transient ischaemic attack www.ninds.nih.gov
 }    Tremors essential www.tremor.org.uk
 }    visual impairment www.viscotland.org.uk

     When you become an expert in a long-term  chronic disease you become known as an expert patient and believe 
     it or not  there is a web site for this called www.expertpatients.co.uk

     We hope this information is helpful. If there is any information about other associations we have not mentioned
     please let us know through our contact page.

   Back to top