ABSTRACT
Many people have a narrow concept of disability. They associate the word with wheelchairs, and with causes of serious physical disability, such as paraplegia and cerebral palsy. In reality, the spectrum of disability is vast. The major causes of disability are musculoskeletal, particularly arthritis and rheumatism. This accounts for about 30" of all disability in Europe. Depression is also a major cause of disability. The prevalence of disability is higher in lower socio-economic groups. Profound multiple learning difficulties are more common among children of Pakistani or Bangladeshi descent. Disability is a complex phenomenon. There has been substantial controversy about its nature and definition. Historically, the term has referred to the functional limitations of body or mind that an individual experiences as a result of illness or impairment. Disabled people are often marginalized. The United Nations has outlined a human rights approach to disability.
