{"id":132,"date":"2012-10-25T07:04:05","date_gmt":"2012-10-25T07:04:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/accessingvassar\/?p=132"},"modified":"2012-11-09T04:59:36","modified_gmt":"2012-11-09T04:59:36","slug":"what-is-a-disability","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/accessingvassar\/2012\/10\/25\/what-is-a-disability\/","title":{"rendered":"What is a disability?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines a disability as the condition of being disabled.\u00a0 How then do they define disabled? The dictionary says, \u201cincapacitated by illness or injury; also<\/em> :<\/strong> physically or mentally impaired in a way that substantially limits activity especially in relation to employment or education.\u201d\u00a0 Vassar\u2019s Office of Accessibility and Educational Opportunity (AEO) defines a student with a disability as any person \u201cwho has a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities, has a record of such impairment, or is regarded as having such an impairment.\u201d<\/p>\n

Many times when people hear the word disability they have the image of someone in a wheelchair in mind; however, there are both visible and invisible disabilities. There are learning disabilities, psychiatric disabilities, mobility impairments, sensory disabilities, and chronic health impairments.\u00a0 Because this blog will focus on disability in the context of education, I will refer to the thirteen disability categories listed in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).<\/p>\n