INTRODUCTION

Question 1

How can we improve our attitudes in regard to disability?

Answer 1

• Focus on people’s similarities
• Consider the person first
• Emphasize each person’s abilities
• Communicate respect
• Use consistent Terminology

Question 2

What is a disability?

Answer 2

“A person with a disability is anyone who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities.”

Question 3

What are some common characteristics of disabling conditions?

Answer 3

• Episodic (sporadic) vs Continuous
• Age of onset
• Length of time with the condition
• Prognosis of the condition
• Severity of the condition
• Heterogeneity and variability
• Visible vs Hidden
• Current health status

Question 4

What does it mean to experience episodic or continuous symptoms in regard to disability?

Answer 4

• episodic: experience changes in symptoms from day to day even from hour to hour
• continuous: may only change as the individual ages

Question 5

Why is the age of onset important in regard to disability?

Answer 5

• influence a person’s approach to leisure

- congenital or acquired

Question 6

Why is the length of time with a disability important?

Answer 6

• ex.) who sustained a spinal cord injury 10-15 years ago will most likely approach leisure opportunities differently than someone who is adjusting to a recent spinal cord injury.

Question 7

Why is the prognosis of the condition important?

Answer 7

• also affect how a person will engage in leisure

- someone whose body is deteriorating will be less likely to participate in leisure

Question 8

Why is the severity of an individual’s condition important in regard to leisure?

Answer 8

• severity of a condition influences a person’s level of participation
• someone with physical and cognitive limitations may require more support and/or assistance than someone with just physical or just cognitive limitations.

Question 9

What is heterogeneity and variability concerning disability?

Answer 9

• describes diversity and differences within a category, group or condition
• ex.) different types of amputation (location, time)

Question 10

What are hidden and visible disabilities and why are they important?

Answer 10

• amputation vs brain injury

- can you see that someone is disabled?

Question 11

Why is current health status important in regard to disability?

Answer 11

• implies that the challenges of a disability will be magnified (made worse) if the person is also dealing with an illness