Disability definition
The Victorian Public Sector Commission, in line with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, recognises the definition of disability as including those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments that, in interaction with various attitudinal and environmental barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others.
The definition of disability under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cwlth) is broad. It includes physical, intellectual, psychiatric, sensory, neurological and learning disabilities. Disability can be permanent or temporary, visible or invisible. Some conditions and impairments are present from birth. Other people acquire or develop disability during their lifetime from an accident, condition, illness or injury. For some people, support requirements can increase over time. Others can experience fluctuating or episodic disability. Some people may have multiple disabilities, giving rise to different support requirements.
Disability, sexuality, cultural diversity, it’s not ‘special’, or ‘unusual’ or ‘not our problem’. It is the lived reality of a human being and therefore everybody’s responsibility to ensure all are given an equal chance to experience their educational and social potential in a non-judgemental, inclusive, transparent, accountable and empowering way.
Consultation participant — Absolutely Everyone: State Disability Plan 2017–2020
This social model of disability, which understands that negative attitudes and environmental barriers impact the ability to participate in work and life, underpins this plan, which builds capacity and removes barriers to the workforce and respects the human rights of people with disability.
What is disability discrimination?
The Disability Discrimination Act states that discrimination based on disability occurs when a person with disability is either:
- treated less favourably than a person without disability (direct discrimination), or
- made to comply with a general requirement or condition that the person is unable to comply with because of their disability, and that leads to the person being disadvantaged (indirect discrimination).
Updated