impairmentdisabilityhandicap

Impairment, disability, and handicap are terms historically used to describe consequences of health conditions. In modern usage they refer to different levels of description and context: impairment denotes a problem with body function or structure; disability denotes a limitation in performing tasks; handicap denotes a disadvantage arising from environmental and social barriers that affect participation.

Impairment refers to any loss or abnormality in body function or structure, such as reduced vision, a spinal injury, or chronic kidney disease. It does not by itself determine how a person functions in daily life, because outcomes depend on environment, supports, and accommodations.

Disability describes limitations in performing activities in a typical environment, such as walking, hearing, communicating, or learning. Disabilities are influenced by personal factors, social attitudes, and physical settings as well as the underlying impairment, and they can vary with context and access to assistive technologies or supports.

Handicap, historically used to describe social disadvantage resulting from impairment and disability in a given context, is less used in modern classifications. In some frameworks, such as the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), the term handicap is replaced by concepts like participation restrictions and environmental factors, emphasizing interaction between the individual and their surroundings.

Modern frameworks emphasize a rights-based approach to disability, aiming to remove barriers and provide supports rather than define people by their condition. International conventions, national laws, and accessibility standards promote inclusive design, accommodations, and equal opportunities for education, employment, and social participation. Understanding impairment, disability, and handicap as interacting factors helps in assessment, policy, and service delivery.