Disabled World - Disability News & Information

The primary focus of the Disabled World web site is to provide up to date information via our informative news, product reviews, and educational videos. We publish new items daily by our in-house writers, and information received from organizations and Government Departments, that are of interest to persons with disabilities, carers, and the general public. Submission of disability related information, assistive technology products, and coming events are welcome.

Definition of Disabled

The word "disabled" is defined as having a physical or mental disability : unable to perform one or more natural activities (such as walking or seeing) because of illness, injury, etc. The word disabled came to be used as the standard term in referring to people with physical or mental disabilities in the second half of the 20th century - and it remains the most generally accepted term in both British and U.S. English. Lately, "Disability" and "Disabled" are both terms that are undergoing change due to the disability rights movement in America and the United Kingdom - Disability or Disabled - Which Term is Right?

Some Quick Disability Facts

"People with disabilities are the largest minority group, the only one any person can join at any time."

Disability is a subject you may read about online, or in a newspaper, but not think of as something that might actually happen to you. But your chances of becoming disabled are greater than you realize. Today more people live with a disability than ever before due to our aging societies as well as improved medical treatments helping manage long-term health problems. Some people are born with a disability, others become disabled as a result of an illness or injury, and some people develop them as they age. At some point in our lives almost all of us will have some type of disability.

• About 1 in 5 people in America currently has a disability.
• 33% of 20-year-old workers will become disabled before reaching retirement age.
• Over a billion people, around 15% of the world's population, have some form of disability.
• Between 110 million and 190 million adults worldwide have significant difficulties in functioning.
• Rates of disability are increasing due to population aging and increases in chronic health conditions.

One of the key challenges for a person with a disability is to be seen by the public, to be portrayed in media outlets, and treated by health care professionals, as an individual with their own abilities, not just stereotyped as a "disabled person".