Types of Disability

Section: Broad Categories of Disability

Physical Disabilities - These disabilities result in limitations in mobility or motor abilities. Common examples include cerebral palsy, spinal cord injuries, and muscular dystrophy.
Sensory Disabilities - These disabilities can affect one or more senses such as sight, hearing, touch, smell, taste, awareness of body position and movements. Common examples are blindness, deafness or sensory processing disorder.
Intellectual Disabilities - Disabilities in this category are characterised by limitation in cognitive functioning and skills including communication, social and self-care skills. Down’s syndrome and Autism Spectrum Disorder are examples.
Learning Disabilities - These disabilities affect the brain’s ability to receive, process, analyse or store information, impacting learning and education. Examples include Dyslexia, ADHD and Dyspraxia.
Psychiatric Disabilities - Sometimes referred to as mental health disabilities, these are conditions that affect mood, thinking, and behaviour, such as depression, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

Section: Common Specific Disabilities

Autism Spectrum Disorder - A range of neurodevelopmental disorders that affects social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication and can also include repetitive behaviours.
Dyslexia - A learning disorder characterized by difficulties with reading due to issues with language processing.
Down’s Syndrome - A genetic disorder resulting caused by the presence of all or part of a third copy of chromosome 21. It is associated with physical growth delays, characteristic facial features, and mild to moderate intellectual disability.
Cerebral Palsy - A group of disorders that affect balance, movement, and muscle tone, caused by damage that occurs to the immature, developing brain, most often before birth.
ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) - A neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity.
Schizophrenia - A psychiatric disorder that affects a person’s ability to think clearly, manage feelings, make decisions, and relate to other people.
Muscular Dystrophy - A group of genetic diseases that cause progressive weakness and loss of muscle mass.
Spinal Cord Injuries - Damage to the spinal cord that causes changes in its function, either temporary or permanent, impacting mobility and sensation.

Remember, each individual is unique, and disabilities can vary widely even within these categories. Also, an individual can have more than one type of disability. It is important to approach each individual with understanding and respect, and base services and supports on their unique needs and preferences.