Common Physical Disabilities: Mobility, Vision, and Hearing Impairments
Major categories of physical disability:
- Mobility Disabilities: Difficulty walking/moving. Causes: spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, arthritis, amputation, stroke, Parkinson's.
- Vision Impairments: Partial sight to total blindness. Causes: cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, retinitis pigmentosa, cortical visual impairment.
- Hearing Impairments: Hard of hearing to deafness. Causes: otitis media, noise-induced loss, presbycusis, Ménière's disease, otosclerosis, congenital, medication ototoxicity.
Each requires individualized accommodation: assistive devices (wheelchairs, screen readers, hearing aids), environmental modifications, communication access (captions, interpreters), and inclusive design. The social model emphasizes removing barriers, not fixing the person.
Disabilities - Related Articles
- Understanding the Challenges Faced by People with Disabilities
- Disability Concepts: Impairment, Disability, Handicap, and Related Terms
- Becoming an Occupational Therapist: Education, Licensure, and Career Path
- Medically Intractable Seizures: Causes, Symptoms & Management
- Challenges in Down Syndrome: Developmental Domains and Support
- Disability Discharge Loans for Veterans: Eligibility, Application & Terms
- Cerebral Palsy Caregiving: A Comprehensive Guide for Families