ABSTRACT
During the Trieste Conference, which lasted from 17-20 April 2002, a new World Health Organization publication was presented to classify the functioning, health and disability of people across the world which challenges mainstream ideas on how the people consider health and disability. While traditional health indicators are based on the mortality rates of populations, the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health shifts focus to "life", how people live with their health conditions and how these can be improved to achieve a productive, fulfilling life. Disability is not presented as a problem of a minority group, nor just of people with a visible impairment or in a wheelchair. In other words disability is conceptualised as a multi-dimensional experience that can be related to organs or body parts, such as impairment of the mobility of joints or bones, or the function of muscles. The word disability is used as an umbrella term which includes: impairments; activity limitations; and participation restrictions.
