Types

• The Americans With Disabilities Act declares anyone physically disabled who exhibits physical impairments, as well as those who have a history of such conditions without currently displaying symptoms. Individuals who are subject to discrimination due to certain physical challenges, even if they can perform regular activities, are considered handicapped. People with facial deformities fall into this last category.
  
  

Features

• Orthopedic, musculoskeletal or neurological conditions can make certain activities difficult or impossible. Life activities prevented by disabilities include difficulties in walking, breathing, seeing, hearing, speaking and learning. The inability to do household activities like cooking, cleaning oneself, getting dressed and performing manual tasks are also considered signs of physical impairment.
  
  

Major Disabilities

• Among the conditions that can severely limit a person's ability to perform life's daily activities are deafness, blindness, epilepsy, paralysis and HIV/AIDS. Individuals still able to function as physically able but with certain chronic conditions that may require special care are included as physically handicapped. These include diabetes, Addison's disease, heart disease and rheumatoid arthritis. Individuals who have recovered or are in remission from certain conditions, including cancer, remain classified as physically challenged.
  
  

Nonchronic Conditions

• Temporary disabilities from which a patient is expected to make a full recovery do not qualify as physical handicaps. Among these are broken bones, sprains and pneumonia. Recovering from surgical procedures, unless directly related to correcting a physical impairment covered by the Americans With Disabilities Act, is also not considered a handicap.
  
  

Children

• Schools may have to classify certain students as physically challenged even if the children have conditions that may dissipate over time or disappear all together. Students with asthma, frequent earaches and rheumatic fever are considered physically handicapped while undergoing treatment for these problems.
  
  

Significance

• The recognition of people with special needs has led to better social treatment and legal protection in the workplace. Public and private facilities cater to the needs of the physically disabled, allowing them to participate in activities previously denied them, including sports and entertainment. As a result of these changing attitudes, individuals with physical handicaps contribute to society in ways they could not before, both as employees and consumers.