Impairment, Disability and Handicap

The relationship between impairment, disability and handicap.

The relationship between impairment, disability and handicap are all associated to whatever may be the condition(s) that sometimes make it complicated or not at all possible for an person to totally function in their usual and regular ways in carrying out activities in their daily life.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommended the following definitions in 1980:

- Impairment: a failure or irregularity of psychological, physiological, or anatomical structure or function.

- Disability: any restraint or lack of the ability to carry out an activity in the way or within the range considered normal for a human being.

- Handicap: a disadvantage for a given individual, resulting from an impairment or a disability, that limits or prevents the fulfilment of a role that is normal for that individual.

An example of a condition in someone who is associated with an impairment, disability and handicap that affects the regular functioning of the body/organs/muscles is cerebral palsy. I was lucky to have had the experience a few years back working next to a ‘special educational needs’ unit in Guyana where I experienced a child born with cerebral palsy. The child’s impairment was being born with the condition ‘cerebral palsy’, his disability was having limited control over the functions of his bodily structure and limb movements. He was handicap in the ways of not being able to do anything for himself such as feeding, dressing, bathing himself, writing, walking, running, and even speaking properly. They may use signs, but the vocabulary may be severely limited (Kiernan, Reid & Jones, 1982) .

However though the child’s brain was fully functioning and with the use of ICT ( Information Communication Technology) in the classroom he was able to achieve his educational goals.

References:

American Foundation for the Blind. (2005). A teacher perspective. National Agenda on the Education of Children and Youths with Visual Impairments, Including those with Multiple Disabilities. Retrieved from http://www.afb.org/Section.asp?DocumentID=2669&SectionID=56

Games in Education. Adrian Camm. Retrieved from http://gamesined.wikispaces.com/

Kiernan, C., Reid, B., & Jones, L. (1982). Signs and symbols. London: Heinemann.

Wise Geek. Clear answers for common questions. Retrieved from http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-difference-between-impairment-disability-and-handicap.htm

World Health Organization (1980). International classification of impairments, disabilities, and handicaps.

Geneva: WHO. Retrieved from http://speech.di.uoa.gr/hestia/books/issues91/05imp.html