Disability Health

About Disability

A disability is any condition of the body or mind (impairment) that makes it more difficult for the person with the condition to do certain activities (activity limitation) and interact with the world around them (participation restrictions).

There are many types of disabilities, such as those that affect a person’s:

• Vision
• Movement
• Thinking
• Remembering
• Learning
• Communicating
• Hearing
• Mental health
• Social Relationships. CDC.gov

Although “people with disabilities” sometimes refers to a single population, this is a very diverse group of people with a wide range of needs. Many types of disabilities fall under mental health, hearing impairment, etc. Two people with the same type of disability can be affected in very different ways. For example, one person with brain injury may have changes in vision and difficulty with memory and another person with a similar injury may experience challenges in communicating and social relationships. Some disabilities may be hidden or not easy to see.

According to the World Health Organization, disability has three dimensions:

1. Impairment in a person’s body structure or function, or mental functioning; examples of impairments include loss of a limb, loss of vision or memory loss.
2. Activity limitation, such as difficulty seeing, hearing, walking, or problem solving.
3. Participation restrictions in normal daily activities, such as working, engaging in social and recreational activities, and obtaining health care and preventive services.

People with disabilities, like all people, are complex. They may have more than one type of disability. Additionally, their network of supports; lifestyle and health related choices; access to resources; geographical location; employment and benefits; and self-advocacy skills are some of the many factors that contribute to an individual’s experience of living with disabilities.

Intersectionality With Brain Injury

Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs) are a leading cause of death and disability in the United States. Over 5 million people have a permanent disability related to Brain Injury – or 1 in 60 people. (BIAA.org) One study found that just over 47% of people 40 or older with a history of Brain Injury live with a disability in at least one area of functioning. (Schneider, Wang, et al., 2021).

TBI has long been called a “silent epidemic” because disabilities following Brain Injury often cannot be readily seen. The large number of anoxic brain injuries (caused by lack of oxygen) from drug overdose has more recently been referred to as the “second silent epidemic.” “Even within the disability community, the issues affecting persons with severe Brain Injury are largely invisible and marginalized. (Fin, 2015)

Some disabilities put people at a higher risk of sustaining a TBI. This list includes autism, hearing or visual impairment, balance changes, muscle weakness and cognitive impairment. These conditions may make it more likely that someone might trip and fall or exercise poor judgement which leads to an accident. They may be in greater danger of being a victim of physical and/or domestic violence. In addition, a prior Brain Injury makes it more likely someone will sustain another Brain Injury.

Common changes following brain injury include reduced memory and attention, decreased problem-solving and organization, changes in judgment and impulse control. It is important to watch for any changes in abilities that might indicate a new brain injury has occurred.

• Screening for a prior history of Brain Injury is recommended at every medical visit.
• Cognitive screening for those identified with an injury is recommended.
• Relevant strategies and accommodations should be taught to the individual to compensate for the changes and to those working with him or her.
• Those accommodations should be built directly into programs whenever possible. For example, breaking down instructions into smaller parts and using visual aids.

The resources listed below are for disability in general. For information on a specific disability, please search online to find national or state advocacy groups and more information.