DISABILITY GROUPS (APPENDIX 2)
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, seizures 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 brain damage
• 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.
5 Data are not included in this publication by disability group; however, this information is provided to assist users to understand data from other products from the SDAC.
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