Images of disability often seem to conjure up a picture of a person in a wheelchair. This is hardly surprising since this is a symbol that has been widely adopted to indicate disability, for example where preference has been given to a person with a disability in a parking bay at the supermarket or station. However, disability encompasses far more than the loss of ability that may leave a person dependant on a wheelchair for mobility.
Disability can result from any physical or mental impairment. The severity of the impairment will be a guide to the degree of disability. Many people with disabilities continue to participate actively in social and recreational activities of all kinds and at work without any significant restrictions. However, there are many people with physical or mental impairments which will restrict the extent to which they can participate and compete with able bodied people.
If disability in the past has led to disadvantage in the world of work, or social organisations, the Equality Act 2010 (previously the Disability Discrimination Act in 1995) has helped to reduce the extent of this disadvantage. Although a person with a disability may be restricted in ability, even the most severely disabled person can expect to be treated fairly.
