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Chapter 4 Inclusion of disabilities

4.1 Inclusion of disabilities – The concept

Definition

The Cambridge University defines disabilities as :
1

(1) A physical or mental impairment

(2) The impairment has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on the person’s ability to carry out
normal day-to-day activities.

The definition of disability does not only refer to people that are blind or have mobility difficulties, like
wheelchair users. It also includes a broad range of conditions like Depression, Diabetes, Dyslexia,
Dyspraxia, Asperger’s Syndrome, Cancer, Multiple Sclerosis, HIV and Schizophrenia.

It also underlines that disabled people are not allowed to be discriminated.

Historical perspective

Before the years 1970, the situation of disabled persons was considered as the consequence of a medical
failure and was a purely medical question. Victims of a particular circumstance, those individuals were
pitied. The change of model in Europe was inspired by a movement created in the years 1960 in the United
States for an independent life of disabled persons. This new approach, a more social approach, advocated
a restructuring of society, the elimination of obstacles, the promotion of positive attitudes and legislation
for non discrimination and in favour of the participation of disabled persons in society. (COE,2011)
2

Present situation

It is estimated that in 2020, one fifth of the EU population has some kind of disability. The European Union
and its member states are stakeholders in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities (UNCRPD) which has guided their European disability strategy 2010-2020. 3

1 https://www.equality.admin.cam.ac.uk/training/equalities-law/protected-characteristics/disability
2 https://www.coe.int/fr/web/compass/disability-and-disablism
3 https://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=1137