About Disability

A disability is any continuing condition that restricts everyday activities.

A disability can result in a person having a substantially reduced capacity for communication, social interaction, learning or mobility and a need for continuing support services in daily life.

A disability is diagnosed by a specialist doctor such as a paediatrician or a clinical psychologist, and usually involves tests and consultation with family members.

The four main types of disability are:

  • Intellectual - a child has been diagnosed by a clinical psychologist as having an IQ (intellectual quotient) in the disability range.
  • Physical - a child has a physical disorder such as spina bifida or hypermobility of the joints.
  • Neurological - a child has a disorder affecting their nervous system such as cerebral palsy. This may also include a child who has an autism spectrum disorder.
  • Cognitive - a child has a memory disorder often caused from an injury to their brain, and has memory issues and at least one of the four following difficulties:
  1. Language problems
  2. Movement difficulties
  3. Inability to recognise familiar things
  4. Difficulties in planning, organising and carrying out activities in a sequenced fashion.

If you feel your child is having difficulties with some activities, you may take them to see a specialist. You may be asked by your doctor, child health nurse, day care staff or kindy teacher to take your child to see a specialist if your child is having learning difficulties, developmental delays or if your child is not doing things other children are doing at the same age.

Giving our children the best start in life has never been more important. In addition to assisting children with disabilities, Therapy Focus also provides therapy and professional services for children with a learning disadvantage.

Facts about disability

  • About 1 in 12 children (aged up to 14) have a disability in Australia (which is approximately 8.3% or approx 318 000)
  • About half of these children have a severe or profound core activity limitation.
  • Autism and intellectual disability are the most common conditions resulting in severe or profound core activity limitation.
  • 97% of children aged 5 to 14 years with a disability attend school, with 89% attending ordinary schools and 9% in special education schools.
  • Around 63% of learning children with disabilities experience difficulties at school, including learning difficulties, communication difficulties and fitting in socially.
  • The most common disability in the West Australian community is intellectual / learning disability followed by physical, sensory / speech and psychiatric disabilities.
  • About 43% of West Australian students with disabilities are not provided with any special support in school.

Reference: Disability updates: children with disabilities, Aust Institute of Health Welfare, July 2006

What is a developmental delay?

A delay in development is also diagnosed by a specialist doctor such as a paediatrician or clinical psychologist. With some support a young child may grow out of their learning or developmental issues.