Categories of disabilities

Every category needs its own specific attention, and besides that, every person has his or her specific needs.  But in general we can say the following:

1.     PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT: a person who cannot walk properly, but can walk a little bit. This person generally needs grab bars, non-slippery floors, no steps, ramps and lots of places where they can rest for a while. This person also can be someone who can’t walk at all and needs, in general, a wheelchair, no thresholds, special bathrooms, lifts, etc. They can also be persons who are not stable in staying and walking, and need, in general, grab bars, ramps, non slippery floors, more places to sit, walking rings, etc.

2.     HEARING, SMELLING AND SIGHT IMPAIRMENT: a person with a hearing problem needs, in general, the right acoustic area, a loop, telephone amplifier, etc. People with sight problems need the right lights in a room, marks on the floor and glass doors and windows, big characters and sometimes Braille and color contrast.

3.     ORGANIC IMPAIRMENT: these are people who have problems with their heart or lungs and don’t have much energy.  In general they need short distances to walk, grab bars, space to rest, no long steps, no long ramps, etc.

4.     SIZE IMPAIRMENT: this can be persons who did not grow well and are very short. They need, in general, lower tables and chairs, lower buttons for electricity and lifts, mailboxes, etc. Then there are people over 2 meters. These, in general, need higher doors, buttons, light switches, tables and chairs, etc.

5.     INTELLECTUAL AND MENTAL IMPAIRMENT: most of these persons also have physical impairments, e.g. sight and hearing and impairments of the organs.