Different Types of Disabilities

Disabilities come in many forms and affect individuals in different ways. Each type of disability presents its own challenges and needs, whether physical, intellectual, or sensory. By understanding different types of disability, we can better understand each person’s characteristics and behaviours. This can help create a more inclusive society and ensure that everyone has equal opportunities and support.

Types of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs) are usually present at birth and impact the individual’s physical, intellectual, and/or emotional development. IDDs affect multiple body parts, including the nervous system, metabolism, and cell function. [1] Common types of intellectual disability include:

1. Down Syndrome

Down syndrome occurs when a baby is born with an extra copy of chromosome 21, causing delays in the child’s mental and physical development. Many people with Down syndrome have mild to moderate intellectual disability. They may also have congenital heart defects, hearing and vision problems, and unstable upper spine (neck).

2. Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) causes learning, speech, and social communication difficulties that are usually permanent. It is known as a spectrum disorder, which means people with ASD can have different symptoms that may change over time.

3. Fragile X Syndrome

Fragile X syndrome is a genetic condition caused by changes in a gene (FMR1) that produces a protein required for brain development. It impacts learning and cognitive development and usually affects males more heavily than females. Children with Fragile X syndrome may also develop anxiety and hyperactive behaviour, attention deficit disorder (ADD), and autism deficit disorder (ADD).

Types of Physical Disabilities

A physical disability is a limitation on one’s mobility, stamina, and overall physical functionalities. They may be caused by inherited or genetic factors, severe illnesses, or injury.

1. Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy is a neurological disorder that affects movement, balance, and posture. General symptoms include difficulties in movement, coordination, speech, and eating. Depending on the severity of the condition, cerebral palsy can affect the whole body, one or two limbs, or only one side of the body.

2. Spina Bifida

Spina bifida occurs when a baby’s spine and spinal cord are not properly developed in the womb. It causes a range of mild to severe physical disabilities, such as deformities of the spine, paralysis or weakness in the legs, bowel and bladder incontinence, and learning difficulties.

3. Epilepsy

Also known as seizure disorder, epilepsy is a neurological condition that causes recurring seizures. These seizures are caused by sudden bursts of electrical activity in the brain. Other symptoms may also include loss of consciousness, temporary confusion, behavioural changes, stiff muscles, and anxiety.

3. Acquired Brain Injury

Acquired brain injury (ABI) refers to any type of brain damage that occurs after birth. It may be caused by infection, head trauma, lack of oxygen in the head, or disease. Some of the most common long-term effects may include increased mental and/or physical fatigue, changes to behaviour, personality, learning, and physical and sensory abilities, as well as difficulties in memory, concentration, and communication.

4. Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a permanent condition that causes random patches or scars in the myelin sheath—the protective tissue around the body’s nerve fibres. This affects the brain, optic nerves, and spinal cord, resulting in fatigue, loss of motor control, tingling, numbness, visual disturbances, memory loss, and cognitive impairment.

5. Tourette Syndrome

Tourette syndrome is a neurological disorder that causes involuntary tics or repetitive vocalisations, sounds, and movements. Vocal tics can take the form of repetitive throat clearing, tongue clicking, grunting, or, rarely, blurting out offensive words. Meanwhile, motor tics may include rapid nose twitching, head jerking, exaggerated eye blinking, or shoulder shrugging. These tics are neurological and not behavioural, which means they are beyond the control of someone with Tourette syndrome.

Types of Sensory Disabilities

A sensory disability affects how a person gathers information through any of their five senses (sight, hearing, smell, touch, and taste). Some of the most common common disabilities include:

1. Blindness and Low Vision

In Australia, a person is considered legally blind if they cannot see at 6 metres what someone with normal vision can see at 60 metres or if their field of vision is less than 20 degrees in diameter. [2] Low vision, on the other hand, refers to having permanent vision loss that cannot be corrected with glasses. Common symptoms of vision loss include blurry or cloudy vision, eye fatigue, sensitivity to light and glare, and difficulties in reading, recognising faces, and seeing clearly at night.

2. Amblyopia

Also known as lazy eye, amblyopia is a condition in which one eye—or rarely, both eyes—does not develop properly during childhood. This causes the impacted eye to drift out of position and not move in alignment with the other eye, affecting the ability to see clearly with both eyes.

3. Hearing Loss and Deafness

Hearing loss or impairment is the partial or total inability to hear, while deafness refers to having very little to no hearing. The type of hearing loss depends on which part of the hearing pathway is affected. Hearing loss can be conductive (a problem with the outer or middle ear), sensorineural (a problem with the cochlea), or a combination of both.

4. Loss of Smell

Anosmia is the medical term for complete loss of smell, while hyposmia refers to only having a partial sense of smell. Head and face injuries, as well as infections such as cold, influenza, and COVID-19, can cause anosmia.

5. Sensory Processing Disorder

Sensory processing disorder is a condition in which a person’s brain perceives and analyses information in an unusual way. Some people with this disorder are oversensitive to certain sounds or textures, making them uncomfortable or overwhelmed. Others, however, may be unresponsive to anything around them, including extreme heat, cold, or pain. Sensory processing problems are commonly a symptom of other conditions like autism spectrum disorder.

Types of Mental Health Disabilities

1 in every 8 people in the world live with a mental health condition. It causes significant changes and disturbances in the way a person thinks, controls emotions, or behaves. Some of the most common disabilities are: [3]

1. Anxiety Disorders

An anxiety disorder is characterised by excessive and uncontrollable fear and worry. This fear often comes with physical signs of panic like rapid heartbeat or sweating. Unlike regular nervousness, which a person experiences occasionally, an anxiety disorder interferes with one’s ability to function normally and causes them to overreact. Types of anxiety disorders include:

Panic disorder: involves multiple panic attacks characterised by intense feelings of fear and accompanied by physical symptoms such as rapid heartbeat, fast breathing, and sweating.
Phobia: severe or overpowering fear towards certain situations or objects.
Agoraphobia: excessive fear of places or situations that might be impossible to escape from.
Social anxiety disorder: severe fear of being judged or watched by others.
Separation anxiety disorder: excessive anxiety from being separated from a loved one, caregiver, or someone a person is close with.
Selective mutism: difficulty or inability to talk in social situations due to intense fear or anxiety

2. Mood Disorders

Mood disorders cause persistent and severe sadness or emptiness, happiness, or both. Certain mood disorders also affect other emotions, such as anger or irritability. These include:

Depression: characterised by loss of interest and persistent sadness or emptiness that affects one’s quality of life. Other symptoms commonly include low energy levels, difficulty sleeping and concentrating, and changes in appetite.
Bipolar disorder: causes intense and sudden mood swings that include episodes of emotional highs (mania or hypomania) and lows (depression).
Substance-induced mood disorder: caused by drug abuse, alcohol use disorder, exposure to toxins, or side effects of medicines.

3. Eating Disorders

Eating disorders affect a person’s eating behaviours and how they see themselves. Common types of eating disorders include:

Anorexia nervosa: restricting food and calorie intake due to intense fear of gaining weight.
Bulimia nervosa: eating large amounts of food at once and then purging it through forced vomiting, taking laxatives, or exercising excessively.
Binge eating disorder: eating large amounts of food at once and feeling unable to stop. Unlike bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder doesn’t involve forced vomiting to purge the food.

4. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is characterised by uncontrollable and recurring thoughts, ideas, or urges (obsessions), repetitive behaviours (compulsions), or both. People with OCD can’t control their obsessions or compulsions and usually spend more than an hour a day on them. These thoughts or behaviours may interfere with their daily activities.

5. Personality Disorders

A personality disorder refers to a condition in which a person’s ways of thinking, behaving, and emotional responses significantly differ from an average person. These differences usually deviate from normal expectations, upsetting other people or causing problems with their behaviour.

6. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) involves intrusive thoughts and feelings related to a traumatic event one has experienced or witnessed. People with PTSD may have anxiety, flashbacks or nightmares, or avoidance of situations, places, or activities related to the traumatic event.

7. Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a psychiatric condition that causes hallucinations like hearing voices or strange sounds and delusions or false beliefs that remain unchanged despite contradicting evidence. Other symptoms of schizophrenia may also include difficulty organising thoughts when speaking, unusual movements, and loss of ability to do things as expected.

Types of Learning Disabilities

Learning disabilities are disorders that can significantly interfere with a person’s ability to learn new things. These difficulties result in problems with speaking, reading, writing, understanding and remembering information, and mathematical calculations.

1. Dyslexia

Dyslexia is a condition that affects reading and writing skills. It has various types that affect people differently. People with phonological dyslexia often confuse similar-sounding words (e.g., their and there, pain and pane), while those with visual dyslexia have trouble reading words that are spelled differently than they sound (e.g., yacht, coronel, island).

2. Dysgraphia

People with dysgraphia find it difficult to express their thoughts in writing or to think and write simultaneously. It is often characterised by poor handwriting or writing letters in reverse, incorrect use of grammar, spelling, and punctuation, as well as difficulty holding and controlling a pen or any writing tool.

3. Dyscalculia

Sometimes called “math dyslexia,” dyscalculia affects a person’s ability to understand numbers and number-based concepts and information. People with this condition may have trouble counting money, reading clocks, and performing mental math calculations.

4. Auditory Processing Disorder

Auditory processing disorder (APD) is a condition in which the brain misinterprets information received by the ear. As a result, people with APD may have difficulty understanding speech or distinguishing between different sounds.

Types of Invisible Disabilities

Invisible disabilities are conditions not immediately apparent to others but still interfere with daily functioning and affect one’s quality of life. Apart from mental illnesses, the most common invisible disabilities include:

1. Chronic Conditions

Chronic conditions have long-lasting effects that are not usually immediately life-threatening. However, they can significantly impact one’s quality of life and limit their ability to navigate daily life. Chronic conditions also often coexist with some form of disability. [4] These types of disability commonly include:

Coronary heart disease: refers to the build-up of fatty substances in the coronary arteries, which blocks the heart’s blood supply.
Stroke: occurs when the blood supply in the brain is blocked (ischemic stroke) or when a blood vessel in the brain leaks or bursts (hemorrhagic stroke).
Diabetes: characterised by elevated levels of blood sugar.
Arthritis: refers to inflammation of a joint.
Back pain: involves a burning or stabbing sensation in the back that can radiate down to the legs and elsewhere in the body.
Osteoporosis: refers to a condition in which bone strength increases.
Asthma: caused by inflammation and muscle tightness around the lungs.
Emphysema: occurs when the alveoli are damaged and ruptured, which causes shortness of breath.

2. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is extreme fatigue or exhaustion that lasts for at least six months and cannot be explained by an underlying medical condition. Research speculates that viruses, a weakened immune system, stress, or hormonal imbalances may cause CFS.

3. Gastrointestinal Disorders

Gastrointestinal disorders affect a person’s gastrointestinal (GI) tract and are classified into two different types. Functional GI disorders occur when the digestive tract looks normal but doesn’t function properly. These include irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and acid reflux. Structural GI disorders involve physical abnormalities in the digestive organ and include hemorrhoids, diverticulosis, and colon cancer.

What Conditions Are Not Considered a Disability?

Not all health conditions are considered disabilities, especially those that are temporary or manageable with treatment.

Acute Injuries

Acute injuries such as lower limb fractures, sprains, and strains can reduce mobility and affect quality of life. However, they are not considered disabilities since they are expected to heal with proper treatment and recovery.

Fostering an Inclusive Society for People With Disabilities

Whether the disability is physical, intellectual, sensory, or invisible, remember that sensitivity and empathy are important in fostering an inclusive and supportive environment for everyone. By understanding the different ways these disabilities can impact daily life, we can create a more compassionate society where all individuals are treated with dignity and respect, regardless of their abilities.

How Nexus is Bridging the Gap for Job Seekers with Disabilities

Nexus helps individuals with disabilities find meaningful employment. By working closely with job seekers and employers, we create opportunities that cater to the unique needs and strengths of those with disabilities. Through coaching and mentoring, career planning, and job matching, we can ensure that job seekers with disabilities can find the right job for themselves and support them in thriving in their chosen careers.

If you’re a person with a disability looking for employment, reaching out to Nexus could be your first step toward finding the right job that suits your skills and career plans. Contact Nexus today.

FAQs

How do you identify if someone has physical disabilities?

Some of the common signs that may suggest a physical disability include mobility or communication challenges and fine motor difficulties. Other physical disabilities may be less visible such as chronic pain or limited range of movement. Understand that not all disabilities are noticeable and should be approached with sensitivity.

What is the most common disability in Australia?

Musculoskeletal disorders are the most common disability, accounting for 30% of people with physical disorders. These include conditions such as arthritis and back problems. [5]

What is the difference between a mental illness and an intellectual disability?

An intellectual disability is a permanent condition that affects cognitive functioning and skills, such as learning, problem-solving, communication, regulating emotions, and accomplishing daily tasks. A mental illness, on the other hand, affects a person’s emotional, psychological, and social well-being and can occur temporarily or during episodic periods.

What is high-functioning intellectual disability?

High-functioning intellectual disability refers to individuals who have cognitive limitations but can perform daily tasks independently. They may have challenges with complex problem-solving, academic tasks, or social communication and can benefit from therapy or life skills coaching.