What do we mean by “people with
disabilities”?
We know that people have many types of disabilities. Some
disabilities are easy to see, such as when a person uses a
wheelchair or when someone has lost an arm. Other disabilities, like
intellectual disability (mental retardation) or a chronic condition
like arthritis, may not be as easy to see. Some people may live with
a disability all their lives. Others may have a disability when they
are young or as an older adult.
Good health is important for all people, including people with
disabilities. Sometimes it can be more difficult for a person with a
disability to live a healthy life. For example, people who use
wheelchairs may not be able to get into a gym to exercise, or a
person who is deaf may not be able to communicate directly with his
or her doctor. Public health and people with disabilities must work
together to remove barriers to health.
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Date: August 30, 2006
Content source: National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental
Disabilities
