Disability can be defined by the medical model which includes hearing and visual impairments, physical, sensory and intellectual disabilities as well as developmental disorders. The overall level of social functionality of an individual also constitutes to disability and is viewed as a result of physical, institutional and attitudinal barriers which prevents an individual’s integration within the society. The biopsychosocial model (Fig. 1) illustrates the integration of medical and social perspectives of disability. Figure 1. Biopsychosocial Model of Disability (WHO, 2001)
Limitations
Limitations that disabled individuals face include problems in body functions or structure known as impairment, activity limitation which is the difficulty in executing activities …show more content…
(Savage et al., 2014) This includes issues with employment, education, dependency on caregivers and low subjective well-being. Disability increases the demands and challenges of the family system and these demands might be long term and have far-reaching effects; beyond the microsystem. For disabled individuals, the way individuals experience disability and how it affects their functioning in the world is heavily dependent upon their relationships with their family members. Individuals who are severely physically impaired face difficulties with mobility therefore will require long-term residential care. These individuals will be restricted in terms of activity participation in the community and consequently, their psychosocial needs would not met. In addition, there would be increases reliance on caregivers thus family members have to set aside a disproportion share of the family’s resources, time, energy and money in caring for the individual, leading to a reduction in the family’s needs being adequately catered