This document provides an overview of disabilities including definitions, classifications, history, causes and society's role. It defines disability as an interaction between a person's body and their environment according to the WHO. Disability exists on a continuum from mild to severe. The history discusses developments from ancient prosthetics to modern inclusion movements. Causes include genetic, medical and societal factors. Major forms of disability recognized are physical, intellectual, sensory and developmental. The document emphasizes that society often stigmatizes those with disabilities through segregation, shame and viewing them as burdens.

1. Disabilities......An over view.
Dr Saim Ali Soomro
Deputy Director.
I. Definition
II. History
III. Classification
VI. Etiology.
V. Society as a cause of
disability

2. P o p u la t io n & D is a b ilit y E s t im a t e s
W H O W o r ld w iid e F ig u r e o f P W D s = 1 0 % o f P o p u la tio n
( U N IC E F & U N E S C O F ig u r e u p to 1 7 % )
L a h o re P a k is t a n
T o ta l p o p u la tio n
L ah ore
7 0 la c s ( 7 m illio n )
P a k is ta n
1 6 c r o re s ( 1 6 0 m illio n )
R a t io o f c h ild r e n o f s c h o o l g o in g 2 1 la c s ( 2 .1 m illio n ) 4 .8 c r o r e s ( 4 8 m illio n )
a g e ( 4 - 1 5 y e a rs ) , 3 0 % o f to ta l
p o p u la tio n
P W D s : 1 0 % o f to ta l p o p u la tio n 7 la c s ( 0 .7 m illio n ) 1 .6 c r o r e s ( 1 6 m illio n )
C h ild r e n o f s c h o o l g o in g a g e w ith 2 .1 la c s ( 0 .2 1 m illio n ) 4 8 la c s ( 4 .8 m illio n )
d is a b ilit ie s :
O n ly 4 % o f c h ild r e n w it h d is a b ilit y g o in g t o s p e c ia l e d u c a t io n s c h o o ls / c e n t r e s .
W hatabout 96% ? T h e s o lu t io n is : IN C L U S IV E E D U C A T IO N .
S p e c ia l E d u c a t io n P o lic y o f G o v t . o f P a k is t a n : T o t a l In c lu s iv e E d u c a t io n
in a ll m a in s tr e a m s c h o o ls b y e a r 2 0 2 5
W H O : W o r ld H e a lt h O r g a n iz a t io n
P W D : P e o p l e w it h D i s a b il i t ie s

3. ➲ WHO” covers impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions.
An impairment is a problem in body function or structure; an activity limitation
is a difficulty encountered by an individual in executing a task or action; while
a participation restriction is a problem experienced by an individual in
involvement in life situations. Thus disability is a complex phenomenon,
reflecting an interaction between features of a person’s body and features of
the society in which he or she lives."

4. Definition (pope & Tarlov)
➲ A disability is "the expression of a physical or mental limitation in a
social context - the gap between a person's capabilities and the
demands of the environment." .
➲ Disability is not a single condition but a continuum which stretches
from mild to severe and profound. According to the American
Committee on a National Agenda for the Prevention of Disabilities
(Pope & Tarlov, 1991), this continuum starts with a pathology. This
professionally diagnosed condition may weaken or damage the
patient's structures or functions, and result in an impairment. If this
impairment limits a person's ability to perform a normal activity, there is
a functional limitation. A functional limitation, combined with a
community situation that restricts the person's ability to live a normal
life,.
➲ According to Pope (1992), "disability in this model, then, corresponds
to what has often been referred to as handicap. however, when used,
it is considered to be synonymous with "disability".

5. History:
➲ First prosthesis was to warrior queen 2500 BC...(Rag ved).
➲ Blind Sahaba (Abdullah ibn Umm Maktum was a cousin of
Khadijah bint Khuwaylid. )
➲ 1400Ad church describes disabled, crippled , idiots,imbeciles.
➲ 1500Ad: they are out cast in society, Mental asylums in Paris.
➲ 1700 : Stephan Hopkins
➲ 1784: school for blind in Paris.
➲ 1800—1805: first Medical classification of Mental disorders. text
for documentation & RX. Dr Benjamin Rush (F/o modern
Am.Psychiatry).
➲ 1809: Birth of Louise Braille invented braille in 1824...
➲

6. Development up to present:
 WWI & WWII brought lot of changes due to war verterns.
 Reverend Thomas Hopkins Gallaude in 1817, started first
school of deaf & Mute in Connecticut..its university for HI..now!
 Racial & Civil rights movements, UNO and other Human rights
bodies has developed many models & equality campaigns
since than.
 1983-1992 decade of disability.
 From decades ,years to Inclusion now..its a long way to equality.
In c lu s io n In c lu s io n
• T h e t im e t o e n d s e g r e g a t io n is N O W . W h a t is in c lu s io n ?
• A ll p e o p le d e s e r v e t o b e v a lu e d a s
• “ In c lu s io n ” m e a n s a ll in d iv id u a ls – w it h a n d
c o n tr ib u tin g c o m m u n it y m e m b e r s .
w ith o u t d is a b ilitie s – liv e , le a r n , w o r k , p la y
a n d p a r tic ip a t e t o g e t h e r in a ll life
e x p e r ie n c e s .
N O W is t h e tim e f o r in c lu s io n . • S u p p o r ts a r e p r o v id e d to m e e t in d iv id u a l
n e e d s , a n d e v e r y o n e is a c c e p t e d a n d
r e g a r d e d a s a v a lu e d m e m b e r o f s o c ie ty .
F lo r id a D e v e lo p m e n ta l D is a b ilitie s C o u n c il
F lo r id a D e v e lo p m e n ta l D is a b ilitie s C o u n c il

7. A C iv il R ig h ts M o v e m e n t
• D is a b ilit y R ig h t s M o v e m e n t ( 1 9 7 0 s – t o d a y )
➲ State the alternative strategies
List S t r u g g lando consdofs eachestrategy
➲ • the pros e t e n e g r g a t io n
➲ Give a forecast of costs
S o u r c e : ( a b o v e a n d r ig h t ) S m it h s o n ia n N a t io n a l M u s e u m o f A m e r ic a n H is t o r y
h t t p : / / a m e r ic a n h is t o r y . s i. e d u / d is a b ilit y r ig h t s / e x h ib it _ m e n u . h t m l
F lo r id a D e v e lo p m e n ta l D is a b ilitie s C o u n c il

8. Causes:
 PRE-Natal (Genetics, infections, Nutrition etc.)
 Natal : infection, injuries, genetic, Medication..etc.
 Post Natal: infections, accidents, metabolic, pre term, etc.
 Early & late child hood factors:
 Adolescence, adult hood & late adult hood disabilities
 Diagnosis: pre term, during pregnancy, immediately fetal
period.
 Early detection & interventions.
 International & local scenario.
 Pakistan's Situation.

9. Major Forms of Disabilities
Recognized Forms of Disabilities
Mental Physical Visual Hearing
Retardation Disability Disability Impairment
Cerebral Palsy Autism Learning Disabilities

10. ➲ Physical disabilities

11. Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy is a static encephalopathy
Encephalopathy = Brain Injury that is non-progressive disorder
of posture and movement
Variable aetiologies
Often associated with epilepsy, speech problems, vision
compromise, & cognitive dysfunction

13. Intellectual & Developmental disabilities:

14. There are also : Visual Impairment, Hearing impairment
and major or minor disabilities.
Age & chronic diseases causing impairments
But Major stigma is our society, where disabilities are
taken as curse, hidden, chained at home or thrown to
mazars, peer's dargah's and made out casts.
A burden of shame is on our society is where normal
children are born with mutilated or under developed
Genitalia..there can be termed male or female, by
Genetic testing, by plastic surgery and brought up as
Man or women ...not to disown by family and relatives if
proper awareness is given by us.
These children are on our streets as beggars, sex
workers and doing unethical jobs and seen by us a out
casts.
Dr Saim Ali Soomro