What is a disability?

The definition of disability under the Disability Discrimination Act (1992) is very broad. It includes:

1. total or partial loss of the person's bodily or mental functions; or
2. total or partial loss of a part of the body; or
3. the presence in the body of organisms causing disease or illness; or
4. or the presence in the body of organisms capable of causing disease or illness; or
5. the malfunction, malformation or disfigurement of a part of the person's body; or
6. a disorder or malfunction that results in the person learning differently from a person without the disorder or malfunction; or
7. a disorder, illness or disease that affects a persons' thought processes, perception of reality, emotions or judgement or that results in disturbed behavior;

and includes a disability that;

• presently exists; or
• previously existed but no longer exists; or
• may exist in the future (including because of a genetic predisposition to that disability); or
• is imputed to a person.
• Under this broad definition, disability includes all physical, intellectual, psychiatric, sensory, neurological, and learning disabilities, as well as physical disfigurement, and disease or disease-causing organisms.

Check out our downloadable Information Sheet 'What is Disability' (PDF, 488.93 KB)