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A disability may be physical, cognitive, mental, sensory, emotional, developmental or some combination of these.
According to the World HealthOrganization Disabilities is an umbrella term, covering impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions. An Impairment is a problem in body function or structure; an activity limitation is a difficulty encountered by an individual in executing a task or action; while a participation restriction is a problem experienced by an individual in involvement in life situations.
Thus disability is a complex phenomenon, reflecting an interaction between features of a person’s body and features of the society in which he or she lives.
An individual may also qualify as disabled if he/she has had an impairment in the past or is seen as disabled based on a personal or group standard or norm. Such impairments may include physical, sensory, and cognitive or developmental disabilities. Mental disorders (also known as psychiatric or psychosocial disability) and various types of chronic disease may also qualify as disabilities.
The international symbol of access has been adopted in 1969 at World Congress of Rehabilitation of the Disabled. The symbol indicating that a building or facility intended for public use is accessible to the wheelchair and black & white as dark blue & white
Various disabilities which have been considered while preparing the guidelines for barrier free built environment are broadly classified under four categories.
- Non-Ambulatory
- Semi-Ambulatory
- Sight disabilities
- Hearing disabilities
- Learning difficulties
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