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 Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission website.