Disability Defined

Disability is a broad term that includes motor and sensory limitations as well as those resulting from chronic illnesses.  The American with Disability Act (ADA) defines a “disability” as a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities such as walking, hearing, seeing, speaking, breathing, learning and working. 

Disabilities can be classified into two basic groups: 

1.  Obvious physical disabilities – mobility impaired, visually impaired, or hearing impaired.

2.  Hidden disabilities - heart disease, diabetes, asthma, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, psychological disorders, epilepsy, Acquired Brain Injuries (ABI), HIV and AIDS.  Included in the hidden disability family are two more categories of disability: specific learning disabilities (LD) and Attention Deficit Disorders (ADD).  

As post secondary institutions become more accessible both physically and academically, greater numbers of persons with disabilities will take advantage of the opportunities formerly unavailable to them.  At that point, campuses such as LCSC may see higher numbers among our student body to emulate society.