UNIT – 4, PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND SPORTS FOR CWSN
Key Points:
Concept of Disability and Disorder
Types of Disability: its causes and nature (Cognitive, Intellectual, Physical)
Types of Disorder: its causes and nature (ADHD, SPD, ASD, ODD, OCD)
Disability Etiquettes
Strategies to make Physical Activities assessable for CWSN
Concept of Disability: Disability is an impairment that may be cognitive,
developmental, intellectual, mental, physical etc. It affects the everyday activities of
the individual to a considerable amount. It may be present in an individual from birth
or occur during one’s lifetime. Disability has different meanings in different societies
of the world. Disability is an injury that restricts the functions or movements of an
individual. It is the consequence of an impairment caused to an individual. Disability
is a medical condition which does not permit an individual to perform any activity or
movement in a normal way.
Concept of Disorder: Disorder is usually used for mental disabilities. Disorder is any
ailment that disturbs the health of an individual. Disorder creates hindrance in an
individual’s performance and reduces his efficiency. In the beginning disorder seems
to be ordinary but they usually grow or spread in a harmful manner in an individual.
Most probably, a disorder cannot be detected on time, as a result of which, a simple
disorder is changed into a disability. A disorder disrupts the normal functioning of an
individual.
Difference between Disability and Disorder
DISABILITY DISORDER
Disability is a disadvantage that restricts
The Disorder is a disruption caused to
the functions or movements of a
the normal functions of a person.
person.
Disability is often associated with body The Disorder is often associated with
parts. mental incompetency.
There are chances to become normal. It
may heal spontaneously, get worse or
No chances to become normal.
can cause permanent dysfunction. All
Disability implies ‘long-term’. It cannot
symptoms and dysfunction may remit,
be healed.
and the person may function fully and
well.
Disabilities are characterised as Disorders are ADHD, SPD, ASD, ODD,
Cognitive, Intellectual and Physical. OCD.
Types of Disability: its causes and nature
1. Cognitive Disability: It is a neurological disorder that creates hindrances or
obstruction for an individual to store, process and produce information. This
ability can affect an individual’s ability or capability to read, compute, speak
and write. The individual’s, who have this type of disability, usually have
following symptoms:
i. Memory disorder: An individual who has auditory problems or difficulty in
remembering something that he heard, said or saw before sometime.
ii. Hyperactivity: An individual with cognitive disability may not have attention
for a long period. He finds it difficult to stay at one place.
iii. Dyslexia: An individual with cognitive disability may exhibit dyslexia. It means
he may have difficulty in writing, reading, speaking, etc.
2. Intellectual disability: It is a disability characterized by significant limitations
both in intellectual functioning (reasoning, learning, problem solving) and in
adaptive behaviour, which covers a range of everyday social and practical
skills. Indeed, this disability is related to the individual’s thought process,
communication, money, learning, problem solving and judgment.
3. Physical disability: it is a limitation on individual’s physical functioning,
mobility, dexterity or stamina. Other impairments such as respiratory
disorders, blindness, epilepsy and steep disorders, which limit other facets of
daily living are also included in physical disabilities. Physical disability may
either be motor deficiency or sensory impairment.
Causes of Disability
Genetic & Inheritance: Abnormalities in genes and genetic inheritance cause
intellectual disability in children. Sometimes, diseases, illness and over exposure to x-
rays may cause genetic disorder.
Mental health problems: problems such as depression, bipolar disorder etc. may
lead to disability. They tend to be some of the most misunderstood disabilities.
Accidents: Accidents may occur anywhere, anytime and to anyone. These accidents
may happen at workplace, on the roads or in the air. These accidents may lead to
disability.
Poverty: Poverty is one of the major causes of disability. Generally, it is seen that
poor persons are the most vulnerable to disability because they live and work in
unsafe environment with poor sanitation. They don’t have good living conditions.
They usually have little access to education, safe drinking water and proper nutrition.
Malnutrition: Malnutrition is another significant cause of disability, especially in our
country. If a child does not get appropriate nutrition, he may be physically weak even
deficiency of calcium leads to malformation of bones. Deficiency of iodine may
diminish the growth of body. Similarly, deficiency of vitamin ‘A’ may cause blindness,
in children. Deficiency of vitamin B12 may lead to loss of memory and cause
paralysis.
Disturbance in Endocrine Glands: Disturbance in endocrine glands may also lead
to disability. Owing to such disturbance, a child may suffer from various physical and
mental deficiency.
Dangerous Working Environment: If individuals work in factories, mines or in
agricultural fields under improper working environment, they may be exposed to
dangerous machinery, tools or chemicals and wide variety of health hazards. In such
conditions they may get disabilities on the long-run.
Poor Approach to Health Care: Many disabilities can be prevented easily, if it has
proper access or approach to health care facilities. Sometimes, good health care
facilities are not available during labour and birth. It may cause a baby to be born
with a disability such as cerebral palsy. Professionally trained persons could handle
such emergencies. They can prevent babies from being born with such disabilities.
Proper immunisation can also help in preventing many disabilities. Usually people
who live in remote areas, do not have proper access to health can facilities, and thus,
sometimes babies suffer disabilities.
Infectious Diseases: Infectious diseases may also cause disabilities. If the immunity
power of a child is low, he is susceptible to fall sick or contact more serious illnesses.
If a child is not immunised well, he becomes vulnerable to infectious diseases like
mumps, which can cause hearing impairment or polio, which can cripple the child.
Nuclear Accidents: Many persons have suffered after being exposed to radiation.
Nuclear radiations have also been increasing in the number of children born with
cognitive disabilities such as Down Syndrome.
Illnesses: The illnesses like cancer, heart attack, diabetes, etc., cause a number of
long-term disabilities. Arthritis, back pain, musculoskeletal disorders, etc., are also
significant causes of disability. Some illnesses to pregnant woman may cause physical
or learning problems to her baby when born.
Lack of Education: Lack of education may lead to disability. Generally, labourers are
not educated. They fall prey to certain diseases which can be avoided by using
scientific methods or by taking precautions. But due to ignorance they do not adopt
such precautionary methods. Hence, their chances to get a disability are risen.
Medicines and Vaccines: No doubt medicines and vaccines are essential to protect
health and prevent disability but there are a number of practitioners in the medical
field who are not qualified or registered. They don’t take proper care while dealing
with patients. The use of unclean syringes may cause serious diseases like hepatitis
or HIV/AIDS. Improperly stored as well as wrong vaccines may cause allergic
reactions, poisoning and deafness to child.
Wars: It is usually seen in wars that the most of the civilians are killed or disabled
along with the soldiers. Bomb explosions cause people to become deaf, dumb and
lose their limbs. Not only the physical health but mental health of the individuals is
also badly affected by nuclear, biological and atomic weapons.
Toxic Materials Pesticides Insecticides: Toxic materials like lead and mercury, etc.
found in various products, use of insecticides and pesticides, other harmful chemicals
may cause disabilities in people and birth defects in babies. As a matter of fact, such
toxic materials may cause damage to brain which ultimately leads to disabilities.
