A disability is any condition that impairs a person’s ability to access aspects of the society they live in equitably. Disabilities are extremely common and are a normal part of life. Around 16% of the global population, or 1.3 billion people, live with a significant disability. These disabilities vary from society to society, as the environment surrounding the people with the impairments determine whether or not those people are disabled.
The World Health Organization (WHO) splits disability up into three dimensions: Impairment, activity limitation, and participation restrictions. Impairment refers to developments that negatively impact a person’s body function or structure. Activity limitations are mechanical difficulties, such as trouble seeing, walking, or hearing. Participation restrictions aren’t necessarily explicitly placed, but prevent people with certain disabilities from doing certain tasks without outside help.