4436.0 - Caring in the Community, Australia, 2009  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 20/10/2011   
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APPENDIX 2 DISABILITY GROUPS


DISABILITY GROUPS

1 Disabilities can be broadly grouped depending on whether they relate to functioning of the mind or the senses, or to anatomy or physiology. Each disability group may refer to a single disability or be composed of a number of broadly similar disabilities. The SDAC module relating to disability groups was designed to identify four separate groups based on the particular type of disability identified.

2 These groups are:

  • Sensory
      • loss of sight (not corrected by glasses or contact lenses)
      • loss of hearing where communication is restricted, or an aid used
      • speech difficulties, including loss.
  • Intellectual
      • difficulty learning or understanding things
  • Physical
      • shortness of breath or breathing difficulties that restrict everyday activities
      • blackouts, fits or loss of consciousness
      • chronic or recurrent pain or discomfort that restricts everyday activities
      • incomplete use of arms or fingers
      • difficulty gripping or holding things
      • incomplete use of feet or legs
      • restriction in physical activities or in doing physical work
      • disfigurement or deformity.
  • Psychological
      • nervous or emotional condition that restricts everyday activities
      • mental illness or condition requiring help or supervision.
  • Head injury, stroke or other brain damage, with long-term effects that restrict everyday activities.

3 The following categories were not included in any of the four groups above, but were included in the total:
  • receiving treatment or medication for any other long-term conditions or ailments and still restricted in everyday activities
  • any other long-term conditions resulting in a restriction in everyday activities.

4 In the disability groups module people could be counted more than once if they had multiple disabilities which belonged to more than one disability group. For example, a person with a hearing loss and speech difficulties would be counted once in the sensory disability group. However, a person with a hearing loss and a physical deformity would be counted once in the sensory disability group and once in the physical disability group. As a result, the sum of the components of data from the disability groups module does not add to the total persons with disabilities.