A Person with Disability (PWD) status is not typically defined by specific illnesses but rather by the impairments or conditions that result from various health issues, congenital factors, or injuries. While an underlying illness might be the cause, it is the resulting long-term functional limitation or disability that is officially recognized.
Recognized Types of Disabilities for PWD Status
The determination of PWD status is based on categories of significant impairments that affect an individual's daily functioning. These categories encompass a range of physical conditions and functional limitations.
The types of disabilities commonly recognized for PWD status include:
- Visual Impairment: This refers to a range of conditions affecting eyesight, from partial sight to complete blindness, which significantly impacts a person's ability to perform daily activities without assistance.
- Hearing Impairment: This category covers various degrees of hearing loss, ranging from mild hearing difficulty to profound deafness, affecting communication and perception of sound.
- Orthopedic Disability: These are physical disabilities related to the skeletal system, muscles, or joints, which can affect mobility, dexterity, and motor skills. This often includes conditions impacting the limbs or spine.
- Other Physical Disabilities: This broad category includes other physical conditions that lead to substantial functional limitations. Specific examples of physical conditions that can qualify include:
- Cleft Palate: A birth defect characterized by a split or opening in the roof of the mouth.
- Harelip (Cleft Lip): A birth defect involving a split or opening in the upper lip.
These conditions can significantly affect speech, feeding, and other bodily functions.
Clarifying Illness vs. Disability
It is essential to understand that while an illness can lead to a disability, the PWD classification focuses on the disability itself. For instance, a chronic illness like diabetes can cause complications such as visual impairment (diabetic retinopathy) or orthopedic issues (neuropathy leading to amputation). In such cases, it is the resulting visual impairment or limb loss that qualifies an individual as a PWD, rather than the diabetes itself. Similarly, conditions like cleft palate or harelip are congenital anomalies, not typically classified as an "illness," but their impact on speech and overall function can lead to PWD recognition.
The focus is always on the persistent and significant impact of a condition on a person's ability to participate equally in society.
| Type of Disability | Description | Examples (as conditions leading to PWD status) |
|---|---|---|
| Visual Impairment | Significant reduction or absence of eyesight, affecting daily activities. | Blindness, low vision |
| Hearing Impairment | Partial or total inability to hear, impacting communication. | Deafness, hard of hearing |
| Orthopedic | Physical limitations related to the musculoskeletal system, affecting movement and motor functions. | Amputations, paralysis, severe arthritis |
| Other Physical | Diverse physical conditions causing functional limitations not covered by the above categories, often impacting specific body systems. | Cleft palate, harelip (affecting speech) |
