Abnormalities in the development of the nervous system that are influenced by both our genes and the environment. Developmental disorders commonly manifest as behavioral abnormalities.

Developmental Disorders

Physical and sensory disabilities are defined by physical or sensory impairments to a person's functioning.

Physical/Sensory disabilities

Developmental or acquired impairments to an individual’s speech, language, or hearing. Some individuals may face impairments in more than one area.

Speech/Communication Disabilities

Also called psychological disorders, these are disorders rooted in mental thought patterns that impair the person's functioning, with specific disorders having their own disgnostic criteria. 

Mental Disorders/Mental Illnesses

Chronic illnesses (also referred to as chronic disease or condition) is a condition that lasts for a year or more and requires frequent medical care. Chronic conditions can effect or limit the activities in one's daily life.

Chronic Illness

These include a variety of disabilities that affect cognitive/intellectual ability and functioning.

Cognitive/Intellectual disabilities

Invisible disability is an umbrella term for disabilities that cannot be seen by others and interfere with day-to-day functioning, but do not have a physical manifestation. This "unseen" characteristic is central to the challenges these individuals face in various environments. 

Invisible Disability

While not all disabilities can fit neatly into one category, these categories generally encapsulate the types of disabilities through the Impairment Dimension.

-	Cognitive / Intellectual 
-	Chronic Illnesses 
-	Developmental
-	Mental 
-	Physical / Sensory
-	Speech / Communication


Georgetown University

Pepperdine University

Oakland University

- Disability History
- Theories/Definitions of Disability
- Disability Legislation/Policy
- Disability Culture
- Accessibility
- Types of Disability 
- Economic Impacts of Disability
- Inclusive Education and Community Support 
- Black Disability Studies

Topics in Disability Studies

A disability is any impairment through which a person is hindered from full participation in society on an equal basis with those without the same impairment. 

Disability

Also known as body dimension. This dimension measures the effect of a disability on one's physical body. This can include effect on a body's structure, such as loss of a limb, or a body's function, such as loss of memory.

Impairment Dimension

Wikipedia

Graser, J., Göken, J., Lyons, N., Ostermann, T., & Michalak, J. (2022). Cognitive-behavioral therapy for adults with intellectual disabilities: A meta-analysis: Science and practice. Clinical Psychology, 29(3), 227-242. doi:https://doi.org/10.1037/cps0000077

Cognitive-behavioral therapy for adults with intellectual disabilities: A meta-analysis: Science and practice

The study of the impact disability has on individual's wealth.

Economic Impacts of Disability

The differences in norms, lifestyles, and social identities, propagated among disabled individuals. It often forms as a reaction toward past and present attitudes towards disabled communities. It promotes connection, camaraderie, and a shared purpose among those in the community. It also includes a motivation for people with disabilities to address their own civil, social, political, and economic needs

Disability Culture

Laws and policies created by governments and government agencies in order to protect the rights of disabled individuals. 

Disability Rights Legislation 

Ensuring that all people have the ability to utilize a product, facility, or service, regardless of any disability they may have. Accessibility may include the modification of existing infrastructure, products, or services or designing them with disabled users in mind.

Accessibility

Types of Disabilities

Defining disability, what it is and importantly who is included inside of it, remains controversial among different disciplines. This can lead to justice issues and denial of care for individuals who may not fit some definitions of disability and yet still identify as disabled.

Challenges in Defining Disability

The evolution of how every topic regarding disabilities has changed over time throughout the world.

History of Disability Studies

To address some of the ideological disconnects between educators and parents, researchers have suggested teachers consider a Disability Studies (DS) framework as they collaborate with families on the IEP process. Scholars approaching DS through 
an educational lens applies the constructing pieces of disability studies to the exploration of disability in school contexts.

Using The Framework of Disability studies to Formulate An IEP

Abosi, O., & Koay, T. L. (2008). Attaining Development Goals of Children with Disabilities: Implications for Inclusive Education. International Journal of Special Education, 23(3), 1–10. 

Attaining Developmental Goals of Children with Disabilities: Implications for Inclusive Education

The aim of inclusive education is to help people with disabilities live independent lives in their communities by allowing them access to equal educational and social opportunities. It eliminates discrimination in education by approaching differences with consideration, patience, and compassion. 

Aim of Inclusive Education

A caregiver is the parent or other family member that is responsible for parenting or caring for a child with a disability. A caregiver provides daily unpaid support for a person who is unable to perform the necessary tasks for daily living.

Caregivers

The inclusion of individuals with disabilities in research is a debated topic lacking protocol. 

Disability Studies Research Ethics

Individuals with disabilities have higher rates of unemployment even if their disabilities do not prevent them from working 

Disability Status (as a Characteristic of the Poor)

Persistent and significant gaps in academic performance and/or educational attainment between non-disabled and disabled students.

Disability Achievement Gap

- On average, students in all disability categories except speech impairments, emotional disturbances, and visual impairments performed significantly worse than students in the learning disabilities category.
- Students with disabilities showed a significantly slower rate of math growth
- The following disabilities groups showed significantly lower calculation scores than students with disabilities: intellectual disability, autism, traumatic brain injury, multiple disabilities
- Students with speech impairments showed significantly higher calculation scores than students with learning disabilities.

Disability Status and Math Growth Trajectory Results

Disability status refers to a person’s disabilities or lack thereof. A disability status refering to a lack of disabilities may include: able bodied, temporarily able bodied, neurotypical.

Disability Status

Disability Studies is an interdisciplinary field of study that examines the consequences and implications of disability as well as various issues that impact the disability community.

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