Introduction to Disability

Camia N. Ferrer
PSB
What is Disability?
Definition of Impairment and Disability
International Context Local Context
Impairment
Any loss or abnormality of psychological,
physiological, or anatomical structure or
function.
1980 ICIDH , WHO
Any loss, diminution or aberration of
psychological or physiological function
with or without an accompanying
anatomical structural defect.
2009 DOH Guidelines on the Implementation of
RA 9442 RA 7277
Disability
Results from the interaction between
persons with impairments and attitudinal
and environmental barriers that hinders
their full and effective participation in
society on an equal basis with others.
2006 UNCRPD Preamble (paragraph e)
The interaction between persons with
impairments and attitudinal and
environmental barriers that hinders their
full and effective participation in society
on an equal basis with others.
2009 DOH Guidelines on the Implementation of
RA 9442 RA 7277
International Context Local Context
Person/s with Disability/ies
Persons with Disabilities include
those who have long-term physical,
mental, intellectual or sensory
impairments which in interaction with
various barriers may hinder their full
and effective participation in society
on an equal basis with others.
2006 UNCRPD Article 1 Purpose
Persons with Disabilities include
those who have long-term physical,
mental, intellectual or sensory
impairments which in interaction with
various barriers may hinder their full
and effective participation in society
on an equal basis with others.
2009 DOH Guidelines on the Implementation
of
RA 9442 RA 7277
Definition of Impairment and Disability
Environment
Physical (natural / structure / infrastructure)
Social (ethics, norms, peers)
Cultural (beliefs, attitudes, behavior)
Political (policies, legislations)
Economics (financial resources)
Religious (teachings, dogma)
Impairment and Disability
IMPAIRMENT = DISABILITY ?
ENVIRONMENT = DISABILITY ?
IMPAIRMENT + ENVIRONMENT = DISABILITY ?
Impairment and Disability
IMPAIRMENT
(Intrinsic Factor)
ENVIRONMENT
(Extrinsic Factor)
DISABILITY
(Disabling Situation)
Simplified Disability Creation Process
Impairment and Disability
Scope of disability
Worldwide, there is an estimated 650 million persons
with disabilities (PWD):
1 : 10 ratio
10% of the worlds population
25% of the population are affected by the
disability

350M PWD have no access to services or assistance
Disability Situation Globally
Causes of disability (according to UN Human Rights and
Disability Studies)
Heredity
Malnutrition
Measles
Illiteracy
Inadequate housing
Natural disasters
Birth
Congenital defect
Lack of care during pregnancy
Traffic, work, sports and home accidents
War / terrorism
Poor sanitation and hygiene
Poliomyelitis
Respiratory diseases
Marriage between close relatives
Metabolic diseases (Diabetes
Mellitus)
Drugs, alcohol, tobacco
Disability Situation Globally
Top causes of disability in the Philippines
Malnutrition
Unsanitary living conditions
Poor pre-natal care
Unstable peace and order situation
Vehicular accidents
Occupational accidents
(World Bank Disabled People and Development Philippine
Country Report 2005)
Disability Situation in the Philippines
Prevalence of Disability (Census 2000
Philippines)
Total no. of PWD 942, 098
Disability by sex (male) 473,332 (50.3%)
Disability by sex (female) 468, 766 (49.7%)
Disability Prevalence 1.2%
Prevalence of Disability (Estimated 2005)
Total no. of PWD 7.5 M
Disability Prevalence 10% (WHO
estimate)
(World Bank Disabled People and Development Philippine Country
Report 2005)
Disability Statistics in the Philippines
Disability Situation in the Philippines
Status of Disability Statistics in the Philippines
Limited available valid data
(if there is, it is not updated and has low
prevalence rate)

Lack of comparable data
(methodology / classification)

Validity
Disability Situation in the Philippines
The Twin Track approach to Disability
Specialized Service Programs
Mainstream and Inclusive
Programs
Corrective surgery
Rehabilitation and Therapy
Aids and Equipment
Sign Language
Supported Employment
Caregiver
Access to mainstream services:
health, education, social
Barrier free environment
Positive community attitudes
Inclusion in planning and
decision making
Livelihood, credit & employment
opportunities
Rights and Social justice
Equal opportunities and full participation
Principle : as much inclusion programs and specialized support when necessary
Disability terms in local dialect (Bicol Region)
Biyadi
Kimay
Lumpo
Buta
Harap
Pilay
Kagit
Baliw
Pangol
Kurang-kurang
Kuging-kuging
Molong
Retarded
Abno
Mongoloid
Bingot
Bungog
Bungol
Pula
Ngura
Ngo-ngo
Kuba
Buktot
Anak-araw
Common Disability Terms
Disability terms in local dialect (Visayas Region)
Ngula
Pi-ay
Bungol
Kato
Pongkol
Bakol
Malnot
Buang
Bungaw
abno
Kimpang
Kimay
Singkol
Buta
Balilang
Libat
May diperensya
Disabled
10% discount
Common Disability Terms
NOT Appropriate Terms
Handicapped
Not-normal
Different
Damaged
Stupid
Dangerous
Retarded
Cretin
Victim
Disabled person
Unlucky
Deformed
Sick
Weird
Not-right
Dumb
Scary
Strange
Abnormal
Differently
abled
Common Disability Terms
Appropriate Inappropriate
Person, individual, client Case, patient, problem,
victim
Person with an impairment /
disability
The handicapped / the
disabled
Person with an intellectual
impairment
Retarded / defective
Person with physical
impairment
Crippled, lame, deformed
Person who uses a
wheelchair or wheelchair
users
Wheelchair bound or
confined to a wheelchair,
wheelchair person
Person with visual
impairment / person who is
blind or has vision loss
The blind
Person with hearing
impairment / person who is
deaf
Deaf and dumb / dumb
Common Disability Terms
Appropriate Inappropriate
Person with mental or
psychological impairment /
person with psychiatric
disability / illness
Crazy, deranged
Person with loss of limb /
person with limb amputation
Amputee patient or amputee
Person with cerebral palsy /
autism
CP victim / spastic person /
autistic
Person with Cerebrovascular
Accident / person with or
who has stroke
Stroke patient or person
Person with diabetes The diabetic
Person with arthritis The arthritic
Blind person
Deaf person
Common Disability Terms
Guidelines on language usage for Persons with Disabilities
(PWD)
person first PWD should be addressed by their
name or called as person and not by their
impairment

Impairment and Disability are not synonymous
Common Disability Terms
Other terminology and abbreviations / acronyms:
Person/s with Disability/ies (PWD)

PWD Organization Persons with Disabilities
Organization
DPO Disabled Peoples Organization or Disabled
Persons Organization (old nomenclature)

Assistive Devices any device that is designed, made,
or adapted to assist a person to perform a particular
task or activity for daily living.
Common Disability Terms
Classification 1. Psychosocial 2. Chronic illnesses with
disabilities
Description Problems in the rational
thinking of the individual
resulting to changes in
behavior and perception of
one self in the society
Words to describe a group of
health conditions that last a
long time.
Examples
(medical
conditions)
chronic stress / anxiety
disorders
hypertension, rheumatoid /
osteoarthritis, diabetes,
cancer, HIV/AIDS, renal or
kidney diseases
Classification of Impairments
Classification 3. Learning
disabilities (cognitive
or intellectual)
4. Mental disabilities
Description Any disorder in 1 or
more of the basic
psychological
processes (perception,
comprehension,
thinking, etc.)
Disability resulting from organic
brain syndrome (mental
retardation, acquired lesions of
the central nervous system, or
dementia) and or mental illness
(psychotic or non-psychotic
disorder)
Examples
(medical
conditions)
Dyslexia, Agraphia,
Attention-Deficit
Hyperactive Disorder,
Cerebral palsy, Autism,
Downs syndrome
Depression, schizophrenia,
anxiety disorders
Classification of Impairments
Classification 5. Visual /
seeing
disabilities
6.
Orthopedic/moving
disabilities
7.
Communication
disability
Description Problem in the
visual functions
even after
treatment of
standard
corrective
procedures.
Problems in the
normal functioning of
the joints, muscles
and limbs
Problems in the
hearing, language
and
communication
Examples
(medical
conditions)
Cataract,
myopia,
glaucoma
Spinal cord injury
(SCI), amputation,
clubfoot,
poliomyelitis
Auditory nerve
damage, tinnitus
Classification of Impairments
Key messages:

A person with a disability is a person first and then
has ability as well
Disability is not just an individual issue but a social
and Human Rights issue
Classifying PWD into seven groups does not mean
that they share or have common needs, each has
different needs.

Classification of Impairments

THANK YOU!