Definition of disability text alternative

Definition of disability

An impairment that has a substantial long-term adverse effect on a person's ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities

• Substantial = more than minor or trivial
• Long-term = has lasted or likely to last at least 12 months
• Normal day-to-day activities = things people do on a regular daily basis

The definition covers:

• Fluctuating or recurring conditions e.g., rheumatoid arthritis
• HIV, cancer, and multiple sclerosis (from diagnosis)
• Other progressive conditions, such as motor neurone disease, muscular dystrophy, and forms of dementia
• A person who is certified as blind, severely sight impaired, sight impaired, or partially sighted
• Severe disfigurement
• Range of conditions as long as three criteria above are met:
  • Sensory impairments
  • Autoimmune conditions
  • Organ-specific conditions (e.g., asthma, cardiovascular disease)
  • Conditions such as autism spectrum disorder and ADHD
  • Specific learning difficulties (e.g., dyslexia, dyspraxia)
  • Mental health conditions
  • Impairments by injury to the body

Mental health conditions are considered disabilities if they meet the criteria of the definition (substantial, long-term adverse effect on normal day-to-day activities)

Duty to make reasonable adjustments

• Obligation to make adjustments to the way they do things to remove barriers for disabled people. Only obliged to make adjustments that are considered reasonable.
• Factors to be taken into account:
  • How effective is change at overcoming disadvantage
  • How practicable changes are
  • Cost of making changes
  • Organisation’s resources
  • Availability of financial support
• It is good practice for an organisation declining a request for an adjustment to provide an audit trail explaining why it was not considered reasonable.