Definitions, concepts, and measures of disability

The term “disability” is a shorthand expression or as explained in the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health an umbrella term. It has been used to identify the impairments that result from disease and injury, the physical, and mental or emotional functional limitations or difficulties a person has as a result of the impairments, as well as the participation restriction they experience when the environment is not supportive. Thus the term disability has been used to represent almost any of the conceptual components associated along the ability continuum that impacts the person, but it also includes the environmental effects that create a limiting impact from the context outside the person. This paper examines those concepts and definitions to provide insight into the measurement process to represent this important element of health and participation.