Disability

Disability is a term used to describe a physical, sensory, mental, or cognitive condition that persists over time. When such a condition encounters barriers in the physical environment and social practices, it can prevent a person from fully participating in community life. The Somali term is also used to refer to a group of people with disabilities.

Disability is not a single category. Forms include mobility impairments (such as blindness or wheelchair use), hearing and sight loss, speech difficulties, and intellectual and cognitive disabilities. Some are present from birth, while others result from illness, injury, war, landmines, or age-related decline.

Two understandings of disability

The medical model views disability as a condition of the individual body requiring treatment. The social model locates disability in structural and systemic barriers: buildings without wheelchair access, documents without braille, or discriminatory attitudes. Contemporary definitions from global health authorities combine both perspectives: disability arises from the interaction between a person's condition and their environment.

Rights and law

In the early twenty-first century, the United Nations adopted an international convention on the rights of persons with disabilities. The convention obligates governments to ensure access to education, healthcare, employment, and political participation, and to provide reasonable accommodation—small adjustments in the workplace or school to enable someone to work or learn.

Access and technology

Accessibility means designing services and spaces from the outset for all users. Examples include ramps, sign language, braille, screen readers, and mobility aids. Emergency response and evacuation procedures must also include provisions for people with disabilities.