Funksjonshemmende

Funksjonshemmende is a Norwegian adjective used to describe factors or conditions that impair or reduce an individual's functional abilities. It is typically applied in relation to health conditions, disabilities, and everyday participation to indicate what makes activities harder, beyond the underlying impairment itself.

It is commonly used in healthcare, social services, education, urban planning, and disability research to identify barriers that limit functioning. The term emphasizes external or contextual factors—such as environments, services, or social attitudes—that hinder participation, rather than labeling a person as disabled.

Examples include physical barriers like stairs or non-accessible transport, architectural design that limits mobility, communicative barriers such as inaccessible information or inadequate sign language support, and inflexible procedures in institutions. Lack of assistive devices or insufficient personal support can also be funksjonshemmende.

In policy and rights discourse, reducing funksjonshemmende barriers is a common objective, often pursued through universal design, tilrettelegging (accommodation), and accessibility measures. The term is sometimes contrasted with funksjonsfremmende factors, which enable functioning and participation.