Definitions of Disability Commonly Used By Schools

Physical Disabilities

These disabilities are generally ones that become apparent at birth or shortly thereafter. Types of physical disabilities include, but are not limited to:

• Cerebral Palsy, a loss of sensation or loss of ability to control movement, which is frequently caused by trauma at birth; mobility, vision, or learning imparment is possibel but not present in all cases. Mental retardation is also present in a SMALL NUMBER of cases. For more information about CP please return to CPIC.
• Spina bifida, a defective closure of the spinal column, often there is a loss of sensation below the defect, imparment in moving parts controlled at that level of the spinal cord and below; sometimes is accompined by incontinence depending on area were defect is/was located.
• Cystic fibrosis,an inherited disease primarily affecting the gastrointestinal and pulmonary systems usually characterized by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
• Down's Syndrome, a congenital birth defect manifesting itself in moderate-to-severe mental retardation. (Mental retardation is only one of a number of disabilities that are associated with Down's.) Depending on how a person is affected, Down's Syndrome is often classified as a developmental disability instead of -- or in addition to -- a physical disability.

Acquired Disabilities

Disabilities of this type can occur at any time and without regard to gender or ethnicity. While instances of occurrence with some of these disabilities may be more frequent in one population than in another, this does not mean it is impossible for one to acquire the disability while another definitely may be affected. For example, while approximately one in nine women get breast cancer, not all do. And while it is rare, some men do get breast cancer. Types of acquired disabilities include, but are not limited to:

• Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)
• Spinal Cord Injury
• Multiple Sclerosis, a slowly progressive central nervous system disorder characterized by gradual weakness and deterioration of muscle function,
• Alzheimer's Disease (frequently called "dementia"), a degenerative process resulting in a large loss of brain cells with the resulting progressive loss of memory.

Developmental Disabilities

Developmental disability, which is defined as any congenital abnormality or disease which disrupts or delays the rate of growth, development, or maturation an individual is often globally referred to as "learning disabilities." This is not entirely true. While learning disabilities are a part of developmental disability, one can have a developmental disability and a learning disability; they are not necessarily linked, nor are they necessarily exclusive. A diagnosis of Failure to Thriveis a case in point. A child with such diagnosis has a failure to grow and to develop, which may include smaller stature or low birth weight. However, the child may have no cognitive defects and will function successfully in school.

Types of developmental disabilities include, but are not limited to:

• Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)
• Dyslexia
• Down's Syndrome or Mental Retardation (see above.)
• Learning Disorder, difficulties noted along a continuum of cognitive abilities including adaptive, fine motor, perceptual-motor, social, and language skills.
• Learning Disability, which assumes normal cognitive abilities and refers specifically to problems in reading, arithmetic, and written expression.

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This page was last updated 06/18/00