Types of Disabilities

An individual with a disability is defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as having a physical, mental, or emotional impairment that limits one or more major life activities. The ADA does not specifically name all of the impairments that are covered, but most recognized disabilities generally fall into one or more of the following categories.

Sensory Disabilities

A sensory disability is one that impacts one of the five senses, taste, sight, touch, smell, and sound.

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This includes: 

• visual disabilities, such as blindness and macular degeneration, 
• hearing disabilities that causes deafness.
• neurological conditions that impair sensory processing, such as Multiple Sclerosis and Lupus

Mobility and Physical Disabilities

A physical or mobility disability is one that affects the use and movement of the upper and lower limbs.

This includes: 

• In-born disabilities affecting the extremities, such as congenital amputation, dwarfism, and muscular dystrophy
• Acquired disability from accidents (para/quadriplegia, broken bones), or disease (arthritis, degenerative disk disease)

Head and Spinal Cord Disabilities

A head or spinal cord injury is one that affects the movement or use of the head and neck, and/or causes degenerative effects in the brain.

This includes:

• Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) often occurring due to severe accidents, and can affect the nervous system (sensory) and movement (physical and mobility)
• Brain Injury, either Traumatic (TBI) or Acquired (ABI), which can result in emotional dysfunctioning and behavioral disturbance.

Cognitive and Learning Disabilities

A cognitive or learning disability is one that affects cognitive and learning processes, and even sensory development. 

This includes:

• ADHD, dyslexia, and other learning disorders
• Autism Spectrum Disorder

Psychological Disability

A psychological or psychiatric disability is one that affects a person’s emotions and behaviors.

This includes:

• Mental conditions such as depression and anxiety
• Emotional disorders such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.