Developmental Disabilities: Facts on Disability

Disability is a broad term that covers activity limitations, participation restrictions and impairments. The term impairment means a problem in the structure or function of the body while participation restriction refers to a problem that is experienced by a person in life involvements. Activity limitation on the other hand is the trouble that is experienced by a person in doing an action or task.

Disability then is a complicated phenomenon that reflects the interaction between features of the body and features of society where the person lives.

Around fifteen percent of the entire population around the world lives with some kind of disability. Around two to four percent of this figure has significant functioning difficulties. The disability prevalence around the world is greater than previous estimates of the World Health Organization or WHO, which were done in the seventies, and suggested that the figure is only around ten percent. This global disability estimate is increasing because of aging population and the fast spread of diseases that are chronic, in addition to the advances made in methodologies utilized in measuring disability.

The first ever world disability report done by the World Bank and WHO review evidence on the circumstances of disabled individuals throughout the world. The report contained chapters that are specific on such topics as health, assistance and support, rehabilitation, education, employment and enabling environments. These chapters follow those that are on understanding and measuring disability. Within each of the chapters is a discussion on the confronted barriers, as well as case studies that showed how nations succeeded in addressing the issues by encouraging good practice. The report also offered nine solid recommendations for practice and policy in its last chapter, which if followed can lead to actual improvements in the lives of disabled people.

You must have heard already that everybody should exercise, but this can be a problem for people who are disabled. While suffering from some form of disability, it is hard enough to do the basic necessities, much less exercise. However, exercise is much more essential if you are a disabled person. Physical activity maintains the strength of your body, provides energy, aids in reducing fatigue and eliminates stress. The key is in finding the correct exercise for your particular circumstance.

In general if you are a wheelchair user, you should focus on resistance training to improve the strength of your upper body and help in reducing injuries. Be sure to discuss things with your physical therapist or doctor first, so that you can be guided on your best options.

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