What is a PWD or a person with disability? They are people who have one or more obstacles brought by medical conditions that hinders certain functions in their lives. However, this does not mean that they are incapable but rather there are things that lead to a diverse spectrum of disabilities.
Right now, there are 10 types of disabilities as settled by the National Council on Disability Affairs. Psychosocial Disability has now been redirected to Mental Disability. Mental Disability pertaining now to the brain, head or mental health faculties.
Physical disability is largely due to some limbs like one or two of the hands or legs which are not functional subject to a missing part of their lack thereof due to developmental processes. It may even be considered an obstruction or problem in the spines or spinal column.
Visual Disability may refer to partially blind or completely blind. They are the recipients of the White Cane Project that pertains to the use of a cane as a guide. They are the reasons why tactile pavements were made after all.
Deaf or hard of hearing is another thing. There is no word such as deaf and mute already. Most people are dead or can’t hear completely or are hard of hearing when one ear can still hear.
Mute as I’ve said has been debunked. The right word is Speech and Language Impairment. It is the only disability now that uses the word Impairment as a disability. This happens when a person in one way or another cannot speak clearly or is not able to speak at all because of lack of the means to learn or some part of the mouth hinders the pronunciation of sounds. Some can be managed through speech therapy but still others are hardly audible so to speak.
Intellectual Disability and Learning Disability may be closely associated but are separate disabilities. The determining factor may be one as stated and diagnosed by a doctor. These disabilities are determined early on – during the toddler phase of a child. It may be said that the physical age of a person may be different from his/ her mental age.
Those experiencing complications brought about by cancer cells may pertain to Persons with Disability due to cancer. Those with the likes of Asperger’s Syndrome or the likes of less known sickness may be situated as Persons with Disabilities due to a Rare Disease.
Chronic Kidney Disease that may often be seen as a complication is a medical condition but not a disability in itself. CKD may bring Visual Disability or some form of Physical Disability which hinders the faculties and functions of the body. CKD is not a disability “per se”.
When you’re talking about people, it is estranged to say mentally retarded, mute or visually or mentally impaired. What is used is as it is – persons with disabilities. I hope we note these in our daily language not because we are correct but to give respect and the dignity afforded to all people. Hopefully, the use of our language is not derogatory but a move to empower persons with disabilities.
