[nfb-db] Definition of Deafblind? was new person

[Sammons, Elizabeth]

Dear Gerardo and others on the list,

First, Gerardo, hello, and I really want to compliment you on your perfect English, as a former English teacher! I am always happy when we have international writers on the list.

I will try to give a very short answer to a big question regarding definitions. There are medical or legal definitions commonly used in Social Security and in the medical world. While important, these are not the only definitions used. In today's rehabilitation world, which is where I work, (Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission,) we define disability functionally. That is, what can you do, and what can't you do?

I am going to quote below directly from one of our publications


What is a functional impairment, and how do we define it?
It involves looking at disability by results of that disability, not the impairment per se.
The severity of a disability is judged by how many limitations there are that affect someone's ability to find or keep a job.

Functional impairments stem from a disability but are played out in real life in effects on:
        Communication, (exchanging information, written or spoken ideas)
        Interpersonal skills, (soft skills someone uses to get along on the job, including relationships, behaviors, etc.)
Mobility, (transportation, help from others, room modifications, orientation, etc.)
Self care, (at home or on the job, for physical or cognitive safety and health needs.)
Self direction, (planning, problem solving, concentrating on a goal, etc.)
 Work tolerance, capacity and endurance (requiring special accommodations for safety or job completion because of physical or psychological restrictions.)
Work skills, (learning and performing the tasks of the job.)

I hope this helps a little bit in continuing the discussion. In a nutshell, if you have difficulty doing certain things that require vision or hearing, or you can no longer do these things, you have an impairment.


Best wishes, and if you need to contact me off line, feel free,
Elizabeth S.



Elizabeth L. Sammons
Assistant, Vocational Rehabilitation Programs
614.466.9844  X. 3644

Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission - www.rsc.ohio.gov<http://www.rsc.ohio.gov/>
Click to follow us at Facebook<http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ohio-Rehabilitation-Services-Commission/155300754532533?sk=wall/>, Twitter<http://twitter.com/#!/OHRSC/>, YouTube<http://www.youtube.com/user/OhioRSCTV?feature=mhee>