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Disabilities
Reviewed by Medicinsk Expert•Last updated: 2026-10-22•Social Family Issues

Disabilities

A disability is any condition of the body or mind that makes it more difficult to perform major life activities and interact with the world.

Overview

A disability is any condition of your body or mind that makes it more difficult for you to do one or more major life activities and interact with the world around you. More than 1 in 4 adults in the United States have some type of disability. While people may share a diagnosis, they often have a wide range of needs and are affected in very different ways.

Disabilities can be categorized as:

  • Visible: Conditions that are easy to see, such as using a wheelchair.
  • Invisible: Hidden conditions that are not easy to see, such as problems with hearing, thinking, or learning.

Types of disabilities can affect your:

  • Vision
  • Hearing
  • Movement
  • Thinking
  • Remembering
  • Learning
  • Communicating
  • Development
  • Mental health
  • Social relationships

Causes & Risk Factors

Disabilities can be present at birth or occur later in life.

Causes present at birth

  • Disorders in single genes, such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy
  • Disorders of chromosomes, such as Down syndrome
  • Exposures before birth to infections or substances, such as drugs, alcohol, or cigarettes

Causes occurring later in life

  • Injuries, such as spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), and back injuries
  • Chronic diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, COPD, and arthritis
  • Cancer
  • Mental health problems
  • Stroke
  • Alzheimer's disease and other causes of dementia

Health & Management

Having a disability does not mean a person cannot be healthy. However, individuals may be at risk for secondary conditions related to their disability, including bowel or bladder problems, chronic pain, diabetes, fatigue, heart disease, injuries, mental health problems (including depression and substance use disorders), obesity, and pressure sores or ulcers.

Staying Healthy

A healthy lifestyle is essential for everyone. Key practices include:

  • Getting regular physical activity
  • Eating healthy foods in healthy portions
  • Limiting sun exposure and using sunscreen to prevent skin cancer
  • Not smoking, and seeking help to quit if needed
  • Using medicines wisely
  • Avoiding alcohol or drinking in moderation
  • Getting help for substance use or mental health problems
  • Staying in touch with family and friends

Resources

Managing a disability can be challenging, but several resources are available:

  • Assistive devices and mobility aids to assist with daily tasks.
  • School plans tailored to a child's specific needs to help them perform at the same level as their peers.
  • Support networks and organizations to provide emotional support and share strategies for daily challenges.
  • Government programs that provide benefits, job training, employment resources, and protection against discrimination.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Frequently Asked Questions

Secondary conditions are preventable physical or emotional complications that arise as a consequence of a primary disability. Common examples include pressure injuries (bedsores), urinary tract infections, severe muscle deconditioning, chronic pain, and depression. Management requires proactive care, such as scheduled pressure-relief repositioning, specialized wheelchair seating cushions, physical therapy tailored to preserved mobility, and routine mental health check-ins. Regular follow-ups with a primary care clinician or physiatrist help detect these issues before they require hospitalization.
temporary impairment is expected to resolve completely or improve significantly within a standard recovery window, such as a fractured limb or acute post-surgical recovery. A permanent disability is a chronic or progressive condition with functional limitations expected to last at least 12 months or throughout the person's lifetime. Providers use standardized functional capacity evaluations, imaging, and objective physical or cognitive assessments to document permanent functional limitations for workplace accommodations or disability benefits.
Occupational therapists (OTs) evaluate how a disability impacts activities of daily living (ADLs), such as bathing, dressing, cooking, and driving. Rather than focusing solely on medical recovery, OTs teach compensatory strategies, recommend adaptive equipment (such as reachers, weighted utensils, or hand controls for vehicles), and conduct home safety assessments to remove tripping hazards, install grab bars, and optimize home layout for independence.
Barriers to routine screenings—such as mammograms, Pap tests, colonoscopies, and dental examinations—often stem from physical inaccessibility. Medical offices frequently lack adjustable examination tables, wheelchair-accessible scales, or wide-bore imaging equipment. In other cases, sensory overload or communication barriers prevent effective care. Patients and caregivers should call medical offices in advance to request accessible rooms, transfer equipment, or American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters to ensure routine preventive health is not neglected.
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine

MedlinePlus brings together authoritative health information from the National Library of Medicine (NLM), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government agencies and health-related organizations.

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