Disability Definitions
At MRAC, we believe in the right to self-determination when it comes to disability identity, whether or not you have received an official diagnosis or disability determination from others. We aim to uplift the vast diversity within the disability community. We also know that claiming this identity can be a journey for folks, especially since there is still stigma surrounding being a person with a disability / a disabled person. Disabilities may included, and are not limited to:
Sensory: Impairments or differences in how someone senses the world. Blindness, for example, is a sensory disability.
Mobility, Flexibility, & Body Structure: Impairments or differences in how a body interacts with the environment. Individuals who use mobility devices and those with dwarfism could be included in this category.
Cognitive: Impairments or differences related to developmental, intellectual, and social skills. Cognitive disabilities are the most common, and may include people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. People with Down Syndrome, Attention Deficit Disorder, and dementia could be included in this category.
Communication: Impairments or differences in how someone communicates to others. People with fluency disorders (like stuttering), and those who do not speak aloud (such as those with muteness), could be included in this category.
Psychological / Psychiatric: A wide range of impairments or differences related to emotional and behavioral states. Individuals with anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia are included in this category.
Systemic and/or Chronic Illness: A wide range of impairments or differences related to longterm health conditions. Individuals with diabetes, arthritis, and Crohn's disease are included int his category.