About disability
Disability is part of the human experience and can be experienced by anyone at any stage of their life. The Australian Bureau of Statistics estimates that 20% of the Australian population have one or more disabilities.
The legal definition of disability is broad and includes:
- Mental illness/psychiatric disabilities
- Learning disabilities
- Autistic Spectrum Disorders
- Medical conditions
- Physical disabilities
- Intellectual disabilities
- Sensory disabilities
- Temporary disabilities, illnesses or injuries
The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 1992 defines disability as:
- total or partial loss of the person's bodily or mental functions; or
- total or partial loss of a part of the body; or
- the presence in the body of organisms causing disease or illness; or
- the presence in the body of organisms capable of causing disease or illness; or
- the malfunction, malformation or disfigurement of a part of the person's body; or
- a disorder or malfunction that results in the person learning differently from a person without the disorder or malfunction; or
- a disorder, illness or disease that affects a person's thought processes, perception of reality, emotions or judgment or that results in disturbed behaviour;
and includes a disability that:
- presently exists; or
- previously existed but no longer exists; or
- may exist in the future; or
- is imputed to a person.
For more information about who is protected by the DDA see the Australian Human Rights Commission website.
