Physical Disability

There are many different types and degrees of physical disabilities and as a result there is little consensus among professionals and researchers concerning its definition.  As such, no single definition exists and therefore the subject is often categorized under the broad term “disability”.
 
According to the Ontario Human Rights Commission, Section 10 (01), a physical disability is defined as follows:

• Any degree of physical disability, infirmity, malformation or disfigurement that is caused by bodily injury, birth defect or illness and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, includes diabetes mellitus, epilepsy, a brain injury, any degree of paralysis, amputation, lack of physical co-ordination, blindness or visual impediment, deafness or hearing impediment, muteness or speech impediment, or physical reliance on a guide dog or other animal or on a wheelchair or other remedial appliance or device.

Statistics Canada defines persons with disabilities as those who report difficulties with daily living activities, or who indicate that a physical or mental condition or a health problem reduced the kind or amount of activities they could do.

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