Disabilities

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Basics

• Summary
• Start Here
• Latest News

Learn More

• Living With
• Related Issues

See, Play and Learn

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Research

• Statistics and Research
• Clinical Trials
• Journal Articles

Resources

• Find an Expert

For You

• Children
• Seniors

Summary

Disabilities make it harder to do normal daily activities. They may limit what you can do physically or mentally, or they can affect your senses. Disability doesn't mean unable, and it isn't a sickness. Most people with disabilities can - and do - work, play, learn, and enjoy full, healthy lives. Mobility aids and assistive devices can make daily tasks easier.

About one in every five people in the United States has a disability. Some people are born with one. Others have them as a result of an illness or injury. Some people develop them as they age. Almost all of us will have a disability at some point in our lives.

Department of Health and Human Services

Start Here

• Types of Disabilities (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Latest News

• Bystander CPR Not Only Saves Lives, It Lessens Disability (05/04/2017, HealthDay)

Living With

• Marriage Advice for Parents of Children With Special Needs (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish

Related Issues

• AgrAbility: Frequently Asked Questions (Department of Agriculture)
• Disability and Health (World Health Organization)
• Disability and Obesity (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish
• Effective Interaction: Communicating with and about People with Disabilities (Office of Disability Employment Policy)
• Grooming, Bathing and Safety Tips (Amputee Coalition of America)
• Individuals with Access and Functional Needs (Department of Homeland Security)
• Special Needs: Planning for Adulthood (Videos) (Nemours Foundation)
• Travelers with Disabilities and Medical Conditions (Transportation Security Administration)

Statistics and Research

• CDC Vital Signs: Adults with Disabilities (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Disabled Persons (National Institutes of Health)
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Health Services for Persons with Disabilities (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

• Article: An Inconsolable Loss.
• Article: Disparities in Disability by Educational Attainment Across US States.
• Article: Addressing the Needs of Children With Disabilities Experiencing Disaster or...
• Disabilities -- see more articles
• Disability evaluation -- see more articles

Find an Expert

• AAAs (Area Agencies on Aging) & Title VI Aging Programs (National Association of Area Agencies on Aging)

Children

• Caring for Siblings of Kids With Special Needs (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
• Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish

Seniors

• Eldercare at Home: Problems of Daily Living (AGS Foundation for Health in Aging)