Do I have a Disability?

 

Definition of Disability

As stated by the Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act of 2008: A mental or physical impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities; have a record of such impairment; or be regarded as having such impairment.  This includes, but not limited to the following:

Includes but not limited to, caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, seeing, hearing, eating, sleeping, walking, standing, lifting, bending, speaking, breathing, learning, reading, concentrating, thinking, communicating, and working.

It also includes the operations of major bodily functions including immune, respiratory, circulatory, endocrine, digestive, reproductive, neurological, brain, normal cell growth, bowel, and bladder.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

This is a neurological condition that affects one's ability to hold and sustain attention, concentration, and impulse control and life management.  People do not always have hyperactivity as part of their condition.  Generally, people with ADHD have a history of symptoms or a diagnosis as a child, but many students are diagnosed as adults.

Autism Spectrum (ASD)

Autism Spectrum impacts the ability for one to make sense of their social environment.  Typical social cues and references may not be understood.  People with ASD often interpret things literally and at face value.  Limited social interaction, executive functioning impairments and focused attention to one particular subject or area are common distinctions to people with ASD.

Blind/Low Vision

Blind/Low vision impairments are of low -incidence; people with this limitation typically acquire it from birth, or through a chronic medical condition such as diabetes or injury.  People who are blind have no vision at all; people with low vision have a low vision field that cannot be corrected by eye glasses, contacts or any other corrective device.  

Brain Injury 

This impairment is typically due to an injury and/or serious internal or external trauma to the brain.  People with brain injury often have impairment in cognitive processing, executive functioning, and memory.  Other limitations can be with emotional regulation and information processing. 

Chronic Medical Condition 

Chronic medical conditions affect one or more of the body's organs or systems.  Common conditions may include chronic migraines, diabetes, Chron's Disease or cancer.

Deaf or Hard of Hearing

People who are deaf have no ability to hear; while people who are hard of hearing have limited hearing function even with the use of devices such as hearing aids.  Typically people who are deaf or hard of hearing are born with the limitation or acquire it due to injury, chronic ear infections or other medical conditions.

Head Injury 

A head injury occurs when an individual has trauma to the head and affects information processing, memory and concentration.  A concussion is an example of a head injury.  A head injury may not have as long-lasting effects as a brain injury.

Learning Disability

A learning disability is a limitation in one's ability to acquire, store, organize, retrieve, manipulate and express information.  People typically have average or above average intelligence, yet exhibit a difference between ability and achievement.   A learning disability is determined through psychoeducational testing from a neuropsychologist or practicing psychologist.  

Mental Health

People who are diagnosed with a condition that impairs their ability to function successfully in life due to limitations to their thinking, feeling and/or behavior.  Common diagnoses include Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Major Depression, Bi-Polar, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Mobility 

People with limitations in their ability to move, bend, walk or write independently.  Often people with mobility limitations utilize a wheelchair or assistive devices.  These limitations are often acquired at birth or by injury.