| Disability refers to the condition of physical or mental | | | | 1970s due to the efforts of people with disabilities for |
| impairment that restricts or limits the ability to perform | | | | legal protection at par with the rest of the population. |
| activities in a normal manner using traditional methods. | | | | Legislations and court rulings marked the establishment |
| Disability can either be congenital or due to some form | | | | of civil rights for people with disabilities. Some of the |
| of illness or injury. Disability can either be a temporary, | | | | landmark disability rights legislations such as Federal |
| correctable condition or permanent, unchangeable | | | | Rehabilitation Act were passed during the 1970s and |
| condition. | | | | 1980s. |
| Physical disabilities include mobility impairment such as | | | | The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 is |
| paralysis, cerebral palsy, and muscular dystrophy; visual | | | | considered a milestone in the movement for equal |
| impairment such as low vision, blindness, and color | | | | rights for people with disabilities. This legislation prohibits |
| blindness; and hearing impairment. Diseases including | | | | discrimination against people with mental or physical |
| Diabetes, Cancer, and AIDS and incapacitation due to | | | | impairments in employment, telecom, transport, and |
| injuries such as spinal cord injury are also categorized | | | | public amenities. Supreme Court rulings in the late 1990s |
| as physical disabilities. Conditions such as a learning | | | | have defined the conditions considered a disability |
| disability, depression, schizophrenia, a phobia, and an | | | | under the Americans with Disability Act. People |
| anxiety disorder are categorized as mental disabilities. | | | | infected with HIV are considered disabled, whereas |
| Developmental disabilities or cognitive impairments | | | | people with correctable disabilities such as vision |
| include conditions such as Autism, Dyslexia, and Down | | | | problems are no longer under the purview of |
| Syndrome. | | | | protection offered by Americans with Disability Act. |
| In the United States, support or services for people | | | | The disability rights movement has come a long way |
| with disabilities provided through legislation were very | | | | by achieving significant victories in terms of legislation |
| limited. Things started to change for the better in the | | | | and government support for people with disabilities. |