Physical Impairments and Disabilities
This page gives you lots of information about physical impairments and disabilities. Click on the questions below for more information.
- What are physical impairments and disabilities?
A physical impairment is something that affects your body. You’re disabled under the Equality Act 2010 if you have a physical or mental impairment that has a ‘substantial’ and ‘long-term’ negative effect on your ability to do normal daily activities.
- ‘substantial’ is more than minor or trivial, eg it takes much longer than it usually would to complete a daily task like getting dressed
- ‘long-term’ means 12 months or more, eg a breathing condition that develops as a result of a lung infection
Different types of physical disabilities include:
- Cerebral Palsy
- Spina Bifida
- Muscular Dystrophy
- Heart Defects
- What should I do if I am worried about my child?
Your child could be displaying difficulties with:
- Their speech development
- Responding to others, physically or verbally
- Interacting or playing
- Their behaviour
Please visit this NHS Choices page for more information.
- What help and support is available in Devon?
- What do different professionals do to support a child with physical difficulties?
- What can I do as a parent carer to support a child with physical difficulties?
- How do I get the equipment and therapies my child needs?
- Where can I get more information?
These websites are good places to look if you want to do some more research into physical disabilities.
page updated 23/03/18