[masraum]

I've never heard or been told or really thought about definitions or differences between impaired, disabled, and handicapped. Thank you for sharing. Hopefully, this will keep me from making a faux pas.

I'd like to ensure that I have a complete understanding of the definitions/differences so can you comment on my statements below, clarifying where my understanding seems incorrect or incomplete?


"impairment refers to a problem with a structure or organ of the body"
So, blindness would be an impairment as well as incomplete development of a limb or reduced function of a limb? (problem with the eyes or a limb)

"disability is a functional limitation with regard to a particular activity"
Those folks may have compensations for impairments that allow them to do most things, but there may be some, particular activities that they are just unable to perform completely or at the same level as non-impaired folks. Or am I misunderstanding?
For instance, blind folks can use a mobility cane to get around, and some blind folks use sound to "see" including the ability to differentiate the "texture" of different surfaces. But in a very loud environment (concert, loud factory, war zone, etc...) they would be disabled. (must compensate for an impairment to perform an activity that a non-impaired person could perform without the compensation)

"handicap refers to a disadvantage in filling a role in life relative to a peer group"
It sounds like handicap would apply to someone that may be able to perform a task with the aid sort of compensation to perform those tasks relative to non-impaired folks. Back to the example of someone blind, they are able to get around and do lots of things with the aid of their mobility cane or echo location. (Can perform activities like non-impaired, but with more difficulty or via alternate methods)
This seems very vague to the point of actually applying to folks with no impairment.
I've seen job reqs that mention "the ability to lift and carry 50#". From that point of view, someone that is physically weak, but not impaired that could not lift/carry 50# would be handicapped because they could not fill the role of a peer group. I suppose that might come down to how their peer group is defined.