A-Z of disability

Confused about disability-related terminology? Find simple definitions for more than 100 key disability-related terms including accessibility, adjustments, common conditions, less-visible disabilities and more.

Last Modified: 1 November 2023

Introduction

Our A-Z of disability contains short entries explaining key concepts around disability inclusion.

This resource includes a number of specific disabilities and long-term conditions, but is not an exhaustive list. Entries include links to related resources in our Knowledge Hub; some of these are only accessible to Business Disability Forum Members and Partners.

Navigate the entries using the menu in the sidebar, or scroll to find the entry you’re looking for.

Something missing? Email us and we’ll add it.

This resource is free and open to all. Members and Partners enjoy exclusive access to the full range of Knowledge Hub resources plus additional membership benefits.

Membership benefits

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A

Ableism

Ableism means prioritising the needs of non-disabled people over disabled people. In an ableist society, it’s assumed that it is “normal” not be disabled and that non-disabled people are more valuable to society.

Absence

Absence takes many forms – including time off to attend appointments, short-term, frequent, and long-term absences. It can be a sign that a person needs support and may benefit from support from their manager.

A selection of our resources addressing absence:

Access to Work

Access to Work is a UK Government initiative that aims to support people with disabilities get jobs and stay in work. It does this by providing employers with grants, carrying out individual workplace assessments, and by offering a Mental Health Support Service.

Accessibility

Accessibility refers to disabled peoples’ ability to access and use products, services and premises. It’s often used in the context of technology and built environments.

ADHD

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodiverse condition that mainly affects attention regulation.

Adjustments

Adjustments are changes that can remove or a barrier that prevents a disabled person from doing their job or accessing things like premises, products and services. For example:

  • Providing a ramp or a lift as an alternative to the stairs
  • Policies that allow people to start and finish work at different times or work from a different location, including from home.

Businesses have a legal duty to make reasonable adjustments for employees, customers, clients and service users under the Equality Act 2010.

Advice Service

A man using a telephone.
A man using a telephone.

BDF Members and Partners can contact our Advice Service for guidance on what to do in specific situations.

AIDS/HIV

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), is a virus that weakens the immune system and is transmitted by contact with some body fluids. It can now be managed very successfully with medication, where this is available.

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is when the HIV infection develops into the more advanced stage causing an “AIDS-defining” disease.

In the UK, HIV and AIDS is covered by the Equality Act 2010 from point of diagnosis. Most people with HIV and AIDS will not require any adjustments at work.

Anorexia nervosa

Anorexia nervosa is a common type of eating disorder. It can often co-occur with another eating disorder, bulimia.

Anxiety

Anxiety is a natural reaction to certain situations such as when we feel threatened, overwhelmed, or worried. It can range from mild to severe.

It is a common symptom in many conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), social anxiety disorder and neurodiverse conditions.

Arthritis

Arthritis causes pain and swelling in one or more joints. There are two main types of adult arthritis:

  • Osteoarthritis
  • Rheumatoid arthritis.

Arthritis is often a feature of other conditions such as lupus, psoriasis, and spondylitis.

Asperger’s syndrome

Asperger’s is an outdated term for a type of autism. The term is now no longer used in new diagnoses, but some people who were diagnosed with Asperger’s still identify with it. Many people now simply prefer the terms ‘autism’ or ‘autism spectrum disorder (or condition).’

Assistance animals

Assistance animals are animals that have undergone specific training to help a disabled person perform certain tasks. For example, ‘hearing dogs’, dogs that can perform tasks for wheelchair users, and animals that alert diabetic owners to low blood sugar levels.

In many countries they have increased legal access rights compared to other animals, including those termed ‘emotional support’ animals.

‘Emotional support animals’ generally do not have the same legal access rights as assistance animals and guide dogs as they are not trained to help the disabled person with specific tasks.

Assistive technology

Assistive technology is a product or digital system that aims to reduce the barriers disabled individuals may encounter. For example, dictation software can be helpful for people who have challenges writing.

Asthma

Asthma is a common respiratory condition that temporarily affects a person’s ability to breathe. It has many different causes and can be potentially fatal.

It may be necessary to make adjustments to a person’s work or working environment if they have asthma. For example, when veterinary staff develop cat allergies.

Autism (autism spectrum disorder)

Autism is a neurodiverse condition which affects each person uniquely. It is most often characterised by:

  • Communication and social interaction challenges
  • Repetitive and restrictive behaviour
  • Sensory sensitivity
  • Highly focused interests and hobbies
  • Anxiety
  • Meltdowns and shutdowns

Asperger’s syndrome (see above) has more recently been included in the autism label, and is no longer used in new diagnoses.

B

Back pain

Back pain, especially lower back pain is very common. It is a significant cause of sickness absence.

Some underlying conditions can cause back pain such as fractures, slipped discs, sciatica, infections and some cancers.

Bi-polar disorder

Bi-polar disorder (previously known as manic depression) is a common mental health condition that is characterised by alternating episodes of depression (lethargic and very low in mood) and mania (very happy, energised, and do everything fast). The fluctuations in mood can last for weeks or months at a times. When extreme, some people may experience psychosis. It can often be well-managed with medical treatments and lifestyle strategies such as regular exercise and routines.

Built environment

A skyscraper – the walkie talking building in London.
A skyscraper – the walkie talking building in London.

The term ‘built environment’ refers to any artificial structure and its interaction with the surrounding environment. It is everything inside and outside a building or site.

Bulimia

Bulimia is a common type of eating disorder. It is characterised by binge eating followed by steps to avoid gaining weight such as:

  • Making oneself sick
  • Using laxatives
  • Excessive exercise
  • A combination of these.

It can often co-occur with another eating disorder, anorexia nervosa.

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Cancer

Cancer is a disease caused when abnormal cells in the body start developing in an uncontrollable way. Sometimes these cells can invade nearby tissues or spread to other parts of the body.

There are over 200 different types of cancer. According to Cancer Research UK, 1 in 2 of us will be diagnosed with cancer. Many cancers are now treatable, and there will be many people at work who have or have had cancer.

Under the UK’s Equality Act 2010, a person with cancer is considered disabled from the point of diagnosis.

Carers

A carer is a person of any age who looks after another person who needs help due to an illness, disability, or frailty. Most often this is a family member, but it may also be a neighbour or friend. The role is unpaid and often unrecognised, even by the carer.

The role of carer can impact the person’s physical and mental health, especially where increasingly more time, emotional and physical input is required. The duration of their caring role and the level of support a carer receives can also have an impact.

Cerebral palsy

Cerebral palsy is the name for a group of conditions that affect a person’s mobility and co-ordination. It occurs before, during, or shortly after birth.

The impact on work will depend on the nature of the job and the severity of any symptoms.

Customers and visitors to your business who have cerebral palsy may require adjustments depending on their needs. This might be access for walking aids or wheelchairs. It may also include fully accessible toilets and training for staff awareness of cerebral palsy.

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) / Myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME)

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) or post viral fatigue syndrome (PVFS).

It is a long-term illness with a wide range of symptoms, with extreme tiredness being the most common.

CFS/ME can affect anyone and is most commonly diagnosed in the mid-20 to mid- 40s age range. It is also more common in women than men.

Chronic pain

The medical definition of chronic pain is pain that lasts for more than 12 weeks despite treatments or medication.

Research suggests that between one-third and one-half of the adult UK population experience chronic pain. This is just under 28 million people over the age of 18 according to research. It also finds that the risk of having chronic pain increases with age and is more prevalent in women.

Many conditions can cause chronic pain; it is not just the result of an operation or injury. In many cases, chronic pain is just one aspect of a condition, and the whole person and their needs should be considered.

Cluttering

Cluttering is a little-recognised speech-fluency condition that is closely associated with stuttering.

A person with cluttered speech may talk rapidly and in a way that sounds disorganised or unclear. It may sound as though the person isn’t sure what they’re trying to say, and their speech could have long breaks between spurts of speech.

Communication

 Communication is a key part of everyone’s job, whether you are in a customer facing role or are communicating internally with colleagues.

Disabled people have the same need for information as non-disabled people. Yet, the communication needs of disabled people are often overlooked. In recent consumer research conducted by Business Disability Forum, at least 7 in 10 respondents stated that their disability or access needs had made it more challenging to find the information they needed when looking to make a purchase for example.

Consumers

A male wheelchair user holds a T shirt up in a clothing store to show a friend.
A male wheelchair user holds a T shirt up in a clothing store to show a friend.

A consumer is anyone who uses a product or service. They can also be customers at the same time.

Disabled people are consumers, customers, clients, patients, students, service users. Yet too often, disabled people face limited choice or increased costs or even difficulty finding the goods and services they want and need.

At least seven in ten disabled consumers stated that their disability or access needs had made finding the information they needed more difficult in the following sectors:

  • New places to eat out (75 per cent)
  • Days out and leisure (78 per cent)
  • Holiday accommodation (73 per cent)
  • Banking and insurance services (70 per cent).

Decisions that could make the difference between acquiring a loyal customer – or not.

COVID-19

The pandemic may officially be over, but many people are still experiencing the effects of it. Some employees, consumers and customers will have long COVID, still be shielding, or be caring for people affected by it. Still others may find that their health has been affected such as their mental health, delays to investigations and treatments for other conditions, or a change in the availability of disability-related services.

Organisations will still be affected by the pandemic too with changes to how they work, such as hybrid working. lessons learnt, and future planning.

Crohn’s disease

Crohn’s disease is a chronic condition that causes inflammation and ulceration to the digestive tract. It can be very painful and cause other symptoms such as fatigue and skin rashes.

It can be classed as both a fluctuating and a recurring condition. There can be long periods of remission for some people.

This disease comes under the heading of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and should not be confused with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Culture

Creating a positive workplace culture begins with current teams and supporting, developing and retaining disabled employees, wherever they are based. The cornerstone of ‘how to do this’ can be distilled to: ask, listen, learn, act.

Customers

A customer is anyone who buys a product or service.

The global spending power of people with disabilities and those around them is estimated to be a market the size of China. In the UK, the “Purple Pound” is currently estimated at £274bn each year.

D

Data monitoring

Data monitoring is when organisations measure how they are doing in disability inclusion. Organisations can measure any number of areas, such as rates of disability among employees or the number of employees with adjustments.

Data monitoring can help identify gaps and areas for improvement as well as what is successful.

Deaf/deaf

Two people using sign language in a library.
Two people using sign language in a library.

‘Deaf’ with a capital D is used to refer to people who have severe hearing loss or no hearing since birth, or before they stared to speak. Sign language is often their first language.

On the other hand, ‘deaf’ with a small d is used to describe severe hearing loss.

Depression

Depression is a mental health condition that affects a person’s mood to the point that they can lose interest and enjoyment in things. People often describe ‘feeling sad’ for weeks or months and that it affects their daily life.

Depression can range from mild to severe and can also be recurring. It is common and often co-occurs with other conditions.

Diabetes

Diabetes is the name for a group of diseases that cause a person to have high sugar levels in the blood. This can cause serious long term health conditions and complications if not identified and treated early.

There are several different types of diabetes, but the most common are Type 1 and Type 2.

Dictation / speech-to-text

Dictation software converts speech to text. It is also known as speech-to-text and can be found on many devices as standard. Different voices and accents can be accessed in many cases.

Disability

In the UK, the Equality Act 2010 defines disability as a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and a long-term effect on the person’s ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.

A long-term effect is one which has lasted, or is expected to last, at least 12 months or the rest of the person’s life if shorter.

There are other ways of looking at disability, however. The most appropriate one to use will depend on the individual(s), the situation, and how they identify themselves.

Disability Confident

Disability Confident is a UK government voluntary scheme set up to support employers to recruit and retain disabled talent.

It has three levels:

  • Level one – Disability Confident Committed
  • Level two – Disability Confident Employer
  • Level three – Disability Confident Leader.

Organisations must be validated by an external organisation to achieve Level three – Business Disability Forum provides this service.

Disability discrimination

Disability discrimination is when a person is treated unfavourably because of disability. It can occur in several ways, not all of which are immediately obvious, including:

  • Direct
  • Indirect
  • Discrimination arising out of disability
  • Harassment
  • Victimisation
  • Failure to make reasonable adjustments.

Organisations must know the definitions of disability discrimination and how to avoid it. In the UK, the Equality Act 2010 governs when disability discrimination is unlawful.

Disability leave

Disability leave is allowing an employee time off work to attend appointments related to their disability.

Reasons an employee may need time off can include medical appointments, treatments and time spent training an assistance animal.

Disability Smart

The Disability Smart framework is built upon 10 business areas that run across all organisations;

  • Leadership
  • Learning and development
  • Workplace adjustments
  • Recruitment
  • Retention
  • Customers and service users
  • Procurement
  • Communications
  • Built environment
  • Technology.

The aim of the framework is to give you a structure to assess how disability inclusive your organisation is at various stages and give you tools to help you improve in areas you identify need more attention.

Disfigurement

Disfigurement (also known as ‘visible difference’) is anything on an individual’s face or body that makes them look different. It is estimated that one in five people have a visual difference.

It can be something the person is born with, inherits, develops, or acquires during their life. Examples of common disfigurements include burns, amputations, skin conditions, scars, height, and tumours.

Diversity

Diversity means welcoming and representing people from a wide range of backgrounds, such as race, age, gender and sexual orientation. Disability is one of these key groups. A diverse workforce that represents the wider population will benefit any organisation.

Dwarfism / little person / short stature

There are over 200 types of dwarfism. It is caused by a medical or genetic condition which causes other symptoms than a person’s height. An individual is considered to be a Little Person if they are 4’10” (approximately 147cm) or shorter as an adult.

Dyscalculia

Dyscalculia is neurodiverse condition that causes a persistent difficulty in the understanding of numbers and maths concepts. It is often described as having ‘poor number sense’.

It is estimated that between 4-6 per cent of people have dyscalculia. There is also a strong overlap with other neurodiverse conditions such as dyslexia.

Dyslexia

Dyslexia is a neurodiverse condition that affects a person’s ability to read and write. It can also affect working memory and organisational skills. It does not affect a person’s intelligence.

It is estimated that 10-15 per cent of the global population are dyslexic.

Dyspraxia or developmental co-ordination disorder (DCD)

Dyspraxia is a neurodiverse condition that affects movement and co-ordination. It can affect gross and/or fine movements. People with dyspraxia can find it harder to perform tasks that require dexterity, physical co-ordination or balance.

Around 5-10 per cent of the population have dyspraxia.

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Eating disorders

Eating disorders are a group of serious mental illnesses, such as anorexia and bulimia. They can affect people of all ages, ethnicities, genders and backgrounds. Approximately a quarter of people with eating disorders are male.

Employee Resource Groups / Staff Networks

An Employee Resource Group (ERG) is a recognised initiative supported by an organisation but led by employees. Its members are all voluntary and are united by a common interest, such as disability and inclusion. Their aim is to support other employees in the workplace and help make it more inclusive.

ERGs can also help employers have a better understanding of the challenges and inequalities that disabled employees face in that organisation and help them resolve them. They can do this through liaising with them on issues such as new products and services, policies and adjustments to buildings, for example.

Business Disability Forum runs a Disability Network Leaders Forum as part of its work with its Members and Partners

Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a long-term painful gynaecological condition that causes womb tissue to grow abnormally, including outside the womb. It can affect people of any age.

It varies in severity with some people experiencing a significant impact on their daily life.

Energy-limiting conditions

Energy-limiting conditions describe a number of conditions that cause symptoms of reduced physical and cognitive energy levels. They are often experienced by people living with underlying health conditions and disabilities.

The main symptoms people experience include:

  • Fatigue
  • Reduced physical stamina
  • Reduced mental stamina.

The effects are usually combined and so have a cumulative impact.

Equality

Equality means sameness between things. What this means in different contexts and when used by different people varies significantly, such as equality of treatment, equality of opportunity and equality of outcome.

Sometimes, equality can mean treating people the same regardless of difference.

At other times, it can mean seeking to achieve the same outcomes or provide the same opportunities. This can mean treating people differently in order to treat them fairly. An example of this meaning is the UK’s Equality Act 2010. This requires employers to treat disabled people differently in some situations by making reasonable adjustments to allow them to achieve the same outcomes as their non-disabled peers.

Equality Act 2010

The Equality Act 2010 is a UK Act of Parliament which covers England, Scotland and Wales. Some parts of the Act are applicable to Northern Ireland.

The Act gives rights to disabled people who have, or have had, a disability which makes it difficult for them to carry out normal day-to-day activities. The term ‘disability’ covers both physical and mental impairments that have a substantial and a long-term effect on the person’s ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.

Equity

Equity is when an individual’s needs and circumstances are identified and addressed. In the context of disability, it means adjustments are implemented to ensure that the end result is fair and that everyone is at the same level or starting point as far as that is possible. For example, having a BSL interpreter at events and captioning on videos means that a person with hearing loss can participate in events, at the same as everyone else.

Eyesight

At its simplest, sight (or vision) loss is anything that affects a person’s ability to see clearly. It includes near and far vision and central and peripheral vision and cannot be corrected by glasses or lenses.

Living with sight loss in a predominantly sighted world can be challenging. It can affect all aspects of everyday life including accessing healthcare, finding work, communication, getting around, and making purchases.

F

Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a long-term condition with widespread pain being the most common symptom.

It is thought to affect one in 20 people. Women are seven times more likely to be diagnosed with fibromyalgia than men.

The cause of fibromyalgia is unknown, but changes to the levels of certain chemicals in the brain are suspected. Deviations in the ways that the central nervous system processes pain messages are also thought to be involved. Genetics is another possibility in some cases.

Fit notes / sick notes

Female patient talking to doctor over video chat.
Female patient talking to doctor over video chat.

In the UK, if your employee is sick for longer than seven calendar days, you should receive a fit note from them.

Fit notes can be certified and issued by nurses, occupational therapists, pharmacists and physiotherapists, in addition to doctors.

Fluctuating conditions

A fluctuating condition is one that is always present but will vary in severity, the frequency of flare-ups, and sometimes the symptoms. Examples include conditions such as asthma, which will result in an ebb and flow of symptoms even with excellent medical and self-management. The skin condition psoriasis is another example.

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Getting started

If your organisation is new to disability, getting started can feel daunting. For practical advice and first steps, see our Getting Started Toolkit.

Guaranteed interviews / Offer an interview scheme

The ‘Offer an interview’ scheme is a commitment made by employers to offer an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for an advertised job.

This forms part of the UK Government’s Disability Confident scheme. Employers participating in the Disability Confident scheme can choose to offer interviews to all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for an advertised job.

This replaced the UK Government’s ‘Guaranteed Interview’ scheme, which ran until 2016.

Guide dogs

A person being led by a guide dog.
A person being led by a guide dog.

The term guide dog is a specific term for dogs that are specially trained by a recognised organisation to help and support a person who has sight loss in their daily life.

A guide dog may also be known as an ‘assistance animal’. They, and their owners, have specific legal access rights in many countries. This means that they are legally allowed in shops, hospitals and other places that other dogs are not permitted. More information on guide dogs can be found here.

H

Hearing loss

Hearing loss occurs when sound signals do not reach the brain. There are different types of hearing loss depending on where the damage to the auditory system is. Most people with hearing loss will have some hearing. The people with no hearing from birth, or shortly after, often identify as Deaf.

More information on hearing loss, deafness, and Deaf can be found here.

HIV/AIDS

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), is a virus that weakens the immune system and is transmitted by contact with some body fluids. It can now be managed very successfully with medication, where this is available.

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is when the HIV infection develops into the more advanced stage causing an “AIDS-defining” disease.

In the UK, HIV and AIDS is covered by the Equality Act 2010 from point of diagnosis. Most people with HIV and AIDS will not require any adjustments at work.

Hybrid working

Many organisations have moved toward a hybrid way of working in which most employees will come into the workplace for between one and four days a week.

However, there might be some workers who cannot do this for disability-related reasons – including long COVID or being clinically vulnerable.

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Identity-first language

A “disabled person” is an example of identity-first language (IFL). This style is often preferred by people who feel that their disability is an inherent part of their identity. They speak about and ‘own’ their disability in the same way they do their nationality.

It is commonly used by members of the Deaf communities and also within neurodiversity. The UK Government and Scottish Governments use IFL. However, some people do not feel that they are defined by their disability, and object that IFL does just this. They are more likely to prefer ‘person-first language’ – for example, ‘person with a disability.’

Inclusion

Inclusion is the ‘how’ in Diversity and Inclusion. It addresses how an organisation ensures that it actively has representation of a diverse range of people and abilities at all levels and that they feel full, equal, and valued members at work.

Inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is the term given to describe a group of chronic diseases that cause inflammation and ulceration of the digestive tract. It is estimated that it affects one in 210 people in the UK, with most diagnoses in the 15-40 age group.

The most common inflammatory bowel diseases are:

  • Crohn’s disease – can affect the entire digestive tract
  • Ulcerative colitis – affects the large bowel.

There are currently no cures for IBD. Existing treatments can significantly reduce symptoms as well as the frequency and duration of flare-ups for many people.

International Day of People with Disabilities

The International Day of People with Disabilities (IDPD) is a UN initiative started in 1992. It is celebrated every year on 3 December.

The aim is to promote the rights and wellbeing of people with disabilities at every level of society and development, and to raise awareness of the situation of people with disabilities in all aspects of political, social, economic, and cultural life.

Intersectionality

Intersectionality is the term used to refer to how different aspects of a person’s identity interact and overlap. For example, disability, age, race, gender, and sexual orientation. Each person’s experience will be unique.

The term ‘intersectionality’ was first used by Professor Kimberlé Crenshaw in 1989.

Irritable bowel syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common digestive condition which causes symptoms such as abdominal cramps, bloating, and diarrhoea.

The cause of IBS is currently unknown and there is no known cure, but changes to diet and some medications can help reduce the symptoms. It is a fluctuating and recurring condition.

IBS should not be confused with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis.

J

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K

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L

Language

Person using highlighters in a notepad.
Person using highlighters in a notepad.

The words that we use to talk about disability are important. Our choice of words can make someone feel engaged and included or ignored and excluded.

Unfortunately, many unhelpful and negative stereotypes continue to exist around disability. Using words or phrases without thinking about their meaning can reinforce these stereotypes.

Learning disability

A learning disability means having a reduced ability to understand new or complex information and to learn new skills. Some people with learning disabilities will need very few adjustments in the workplace, whereas others will require more. Each person’s experience is unique.

It is estimated that about 1.4 million people in the UK have a learning disability.

PMLD (Profound and Multiple Learning Disability) is the term used when an individual has a more severe learning disability and who may have other disabilities that compound their ability to communicate and live independently.

Less visible or non-visible or disabilities

As the name suggests, there are many disabilities that are not immediately apparent. Most disabilities fall into this category.

A few examples of less visible disabilities include mental health conditions, neurodiversity, hearing loss, sight loss, epilepsy, cancer, heart disease, and diabetes.

Little person / Dwarfism / Person of short stature

There are over 200 types of dwarfism. It is caused by a medical or genetic condition which causes other symptoms than a person’s height. An individual is considered to be a Little Person if they are 4’10” (approximately 147cm) or shorter as an adult.

Long COVID

Long COVID is a new condition. The diagnosis is for individuals who have ongoing symptoms 12 weeks after an initial COVID-19 infection has passed.

For some people, the ongoing symptoms are relatively mild, but for others they are severe. Some individuals will have a few symptoms, but others will have several.

The medical profession is continually learning about COVID and long COVID and making discoveries daily. It is likely that a significant number of people with long COVID will meet the definition of disabled under the Equality Act 2010.

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M

Manual dexterity

Manual dexterity is the ability of a person to use their fingers, hands and arms in a coordinated way so that they can perform fine movement. It is needed for tasks such as writing, grasping items, buttons, and picking up small items.

These precise movements require good coordination of the musculoskeletal system and the nervous system. There are many conditions that can affect a person’s manual dexterity such as multiple sclerosis, stroke, cerebral palsy, dyspraxia and neurological degenerative diseases.

Medical model of disability

The medical model of disability is one of a number of different models of disability. It looks to an individual’s body to explain why they are disabled and focuses on cures and treatment.

For example, the medical model explains a wheelchair user’s disability as being caused by a reduced ability to use their legs.

The medical model is often contrasted with the social model. The social model looks to society to explain why an individual is disabled. For example, a social model explanation might say that a wheelchair user is disabled by the absence of features that allow them to move around freely, such as ramps.

Different models of disability are not necessarily mutually exclusive, and one is not necessarily better than the others. Some disabled people identify with one model more than another. Different models may be more or less appropriate depending on the situation and your goals.

Menopause

Menopause is when periods stop. It usually happens between the ages of 45 and 55, but it can happen earlier.

Perimenopause is the time before periods stop.

Both perimenopause and menopause can significantly impact all aspects of life due to symptoms including mood swings, brain fog, anxiety, changes to periods, and hot flushes. There are treatments and self-help measures that can help.

Mental health

Mental health is the state of our general psychological and emotional wellbeing. It can be positively and negatively affected by many different influences.

Mental ill-health – including conditions such as depression, anxiety and stress – can be considered a disability.

Migraine

Migraines are typically experienced as extreme or severe headaches that are often one sided or in “clusters”.. Migraines often come with other symptoms, such as nausea, feeling very tired, mood changes and visual problems.

It is a complex neurological condition causing temporary changes to the nerve signals, chemicals and blood vessels in the brain. Migraines affect approximately one in seven people, and women are three times more likely to experience migraines than men.

Each person’s experience of migraine is unique. Some people may have gaps of several years between attacks, whereas others have several a month. The symptoms and severity also differ between people and often between migraines.

Mobility-limiting conditions

Mobility-limiting conditions prevent a person from having a full range of movement or full use of their limbs. Examples include:

  • spinal cord injuries
  • neurodegenerative conditions such as multiple sclerosis
  • amputation
  • pain, such as from arthritis.

A person with a mobility-limiting condition may require adjustments to their role and environment.

Multiple sclerosis (MS)

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease that affects the brain and spinal cord. It causes a wide variety of symptoms throughout the body depending on the location and severity of the damage.

Approximately 130,000 people in the UK have MS, and about 100 people per week are diagnosed with the disease. MS is two to three times more common in women than men.

There is currently no cure, but effective therapies can slow the disease’s progression in people with ‘relapsing-remitting MS’ and those with ‘secondary progressive MS’ with relapses.

Musculoskeletal conditions

Musculoskeletal conditions affect the joints or tissues in the:

  • Back (upper and lumbar region)
  • Upper limbs (neck, shoulders, arms, elbows, wrists, hands and fingers)
  • Lower limbs (hip, knees and legs, ankles and feet).

This can result from injuries or health conditions.

Symptoms include muscle fatigue, pain, cramp, swelling, numbness, difficulty in movement and general discomfort. These can persist or become worse after working, not just when performing specific tasks.

Myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) / Chronic fatigue syndrome

Myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) is also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) or post viral fatigue syndrome (PVFS).

It is a long-term illness with a wide range of symptoms, with extreme tiredness being the most common.

CFS/ME can affect anyone and is most commonly diagnosed in the mid-20 to mid- 40s age range. It is also more common in women than men.

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Networks

Networks are sometimes also known as Employee Resource Groups (ERGs). They are recognised initiatives supported by an organisation but led by employees. Its members are all voluntary and are united by a common interest, such as disability and inclusion. Their aim is to support other employees in the workplace and help make it more inclusive.

Networks can also help employers have a better understanding of the challenges and inequalities that disabled employees face in that organisation and help them resolve them. They can do this through liaising with them on issues such as new products and services, policies and adjustments to buildings, for example.

Business Disability Forum runs a Disability Network Leaders Forum as part of its work with its Members and Partners.

Neurodiversity

Neurodiversity is an umbrella term to describe different ways of thinking and processing information. The five most common conditions linked to this are:

Many people with other conditions (such as Tourette’s, OCD and some people with acquired brain injuries) can also identify with the neurodiversity label. It is estimated that 15-20 percent of the population are neurodivergent.

Non-visible or less visible disabilities

As the name suggests, there are many disabilities that are not immediately apparent. Most disabilities fall into this category.

A few examples of non-visible disabilities include mental health conditions, neurodiversity, hearing loss, sight loss, epilepsy, cancer, heart disease, and diabetes.

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Occupational Health (OH)

OH is the medical discipline that specialises in workplace health. Its role is to protect and promote the health and well-being of employees through anticipating and preventing work-related (also known as occupational) ill-health and disability. It does this by focusing on how work can affect a person’s health and wellbeing and how a person’s health can impact their work.

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Passports / Tailored Adjustment Plans

A ‘Passport’ – sometimes known as a ‘Tailored Adjustments Plan’ – is a living record of adjustments agreed between an employee and their manager.

Their purpose is to give the employee and their manager a record of adjustments that have been agreed. They are not supposed to guarantee an employee that they can have the same adjustments if they move to a different role. Adjustments should be reviewed regularly and changed if necessary.

Past disabilities

People who have had a disability in the past are protected by the Equality Act 2010. This is the case even if their disability existed before the Equality Act 2010 or its predecessor, the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA) came into force, and they have now fully recovered.

Information on the legal definitions of disability, including past disabilities can be found here:

People-first language (PFL)

“Person with a disability” is an example of people-first language. It puts the person before the disability and separates the identity of the two. When talking about specific disabilities, it means saying “person with [X disability].”

Proponents of PFL argue that a person should not be defined by their disability – they are multi-faceted and complex individuals whose disability is only one remarkable attribute. PFL recognises this by separating the person from their disability.

The alternative to PFL is ‘identity-first language’ – for example, saying “disabled person.”

People management

People management is about supporting the people in a team and enabling them to do their best. It is similar to performance management but it focuses more on the ‘who’ rather than an organisation’s impersonal end goal.

Good people management is one of the key ways disabled employees can be allowed to thrive at work. It also involves ensuring that employees receive the right support and adjustments at work.

Performance management

Performance management focuses on helping an organisation reach its goals.

It does this by using tools to measure, maintain and improve an employee’s quality and quantity of work such as setting objectives, training, and reviews, and holding people to account.

Performance management systems must be flexible to enable managers to incorporate the needs and adjustments to enable individuals, including people with disabilities, to meet their targets and thrive at work.

Presenteeism

Presenteeism is when people turn up for work but are underproductive. This can be for a number of reasons including poor health, disability, poor sleep, financial problems, worrying about potentially losing their job if they take time off or lack of engagement with the organisation and feeling under valued.

Employers can address some disability, ill-health and engagement related presenteeism through providing adjustments for employees who need them, and creating an inclusive culture.

More information on absence management and presenteeism can be found here.

Procurement

Procurement is more than just buying things. It is the whole process from identifying a need to receiving a product or service.

Organisations have a responsibility to procure goods and services that are easily accessible for disabled people.

Progressive conditions

A progressive condition is one that will cause increased symptoms over time, despite treatment. It may also be fluctuating in nature. Most neurological conditions are progressive including multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s and motor neurone diseases.

Provision, criterion, or practice (PCP)

The Equality Act 2010 says:

“Employers have a duty to make reasonable adjustments if the disabled person has been put at a substantial disadvantage by a ‘provision, criterion or practice’ (PCP) imposed by the employer compared to someone who is not disabled.”

A PCP can be almost any arrangement made by an employer. It can include:

  • Policies that are written down and apply to everyone, such as an absence management policy or flexible working policies
  • Unwritten rules or “the way we do things around here”
  • One-off activities such as an event, meeting or a social outing
  • The layout of a building or site
  • Communication methods such as telephones, email, video conferencing
  • Tasks required in a role such as interacting with the public or accurate data entry
  • Performance targets or the quantity and speed of work.

In short, if it is a working arrangement then it might well be a provision, criterion or practice or PCP.

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Quiet areas / Focus areas

Quiet areas are designated spaces within workplaces for people to work with fewer distractions than the standard working environment, or events. Quiet areas can also be created for customers or service users to take a break to recover from overwhelming situations.

They are especially beneficial for neurodivergent people who may have sensory sensitivities and find it difficult to filter out general noise, and bright lights, or movement from people walking about, for example.

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Reasonable

The UK’s Equality Act 2010 requires employers to make adjustments for disabled people when those adjustments are ‘reasonable.’ There are a number of factors which the law says employers should consider when trying to decide if an adjustment is reasonable:

  • Cost
  • Practicality
  • Effectiveness
  • Disruption
  • Health and safety
  • External sources of help – for example, Access to Work.

Often more than one factor will play a part in the decision as to whether an adjustment is reasonable. Reasonableness’ is an employer’s call to make. However, the only way to test definitively if an adjustment is ‘reasonable’ is in a court or tribunal.

Recruitment

Recruitment is more than just an interview, it is the whole process from identifying the need to find a person for a role to an individual successfully completing their probation period.

There are several things to consider to ensure that the best candidate is chosen, and that disabled applicants are not discriminated against due to the process.

Recurring conditions

A recurring condition is one that could well recur even if has been absent for long periods of time. It might also be managed by medication or other treatment to try to prevent recurrence. Recurring conditions can be disabilities for the purpose of the Equality Act 2010 even if medication or treatment prevents recurrence.

Examples of recurring conditions include epilepsy, asthma and depression

Redeployment

Redeployment is the process of transferring an employee from one role to another. Employers might do this for a number of reasons, such as organisational restructures.

Redeployment is a commonly used to describe the reasonable adjustment of transferring a disabled person to a suitable alternative position but this is not the same as redeployment in redundancy situations and employers should be careful not to confuse the two.

Redundancy

Employers have a legal duty to avoid discrimination against disabled employees when making redundancies.

Research

Our Policy and Research team, in conjunction with our Members and Partners, generate new knowledge and bring bold and fresh approaches to policy problems, so that disabled people have better experiences of social and economic inclusion.

We share experience, ask new questions to generate new evidence, and facilitate forward-thinking ideas from our different perspectives as employers, service providers, disabled people, researchers, academics and policy makers.

Respiratory conditions

Respiratory conditions are common and varied. They can range from mild to severe, fluctuating and recurring to progressive. Some can also be triggered by work and the work environment.

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Sick notes / Fit notes

In the UK, if your employee is sick for longer than seven calendar days, you should receive a fit note from them.

Fit notes can be certified and issued by nurses, occupational therapists, pharmacists and physiotherapists, in addition to doctors.

Sickness absence

Absence takes many forms – from time off to attend appointments, short-term, frequent, to long term absences.

It can be a sign that a person needs support and likely to benefit from early intervention.

Sight loss / eye sight

At its simplest, sight (or vision) loss is anything that affects a person’s ability to see clearly. It includes near and far vision and central and peripheral vision and cannot be corrected by glasses or lenses.

Living with sight loss in a predominantly sighted world can be challenging. It can affect all aspects of everyday life including accessing healthcare, finding work, communication, getting around, and making purchases.

Social model of disability

The social model of disability is one of a number of different models of disability. It looks to barriers in society to explain why they are disabled.

For example, a social model explanation might say that a wheelchair user is disabled by the absence of features that allow them to move around freely, such as ramps.

The social model is often contrasted with the medical model. The medical model looks to an individual’s body to explain why they are disabled. For example, the medical model explains a wheelchair user’s disability as being caused by a reduced ability to use their legs.

Different models of disability are not necessarily mutually exclusive, and one is not necessarily better than the others. Some disabled people identify with one model more than another. Different models may be more or less appropriate depending on the situation and your goals.

Speech-to-text / dictation

Speech-to-text is software that converts speech to text. It is also known as dictation and can be found on many devices as standard.

Dragon software is an example of dictation product that can be bought with some professional or industry-specific dictionaries built-in.

Stress / distress

Stress is a natural reaction to feeling under pressure or threatened or during periods of change. A little stress is good for us and can be seen in happy events such as graduations, holidays, weddings, as well as negative ones.

When stress is prolonged and/or negatively affects or mood, it can become ‘distress’.

In some cases, stress on its own has been found to be a disability under the UK’s Equality Act (for example, Leeds Teaching Hospital v Foster).

Stuttering and stammering

The terms stuttering and stammering are often used interchangeably. They are speech- fluency conditions and can be present from birth or be acquired later in life, such as following a stroke. They affect the physical mechanics of speech and can range from mild to severe.

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Tailored adjustment plan / passport

A ‘Passport’ – sometimes known as a ‘Tailored Adjustments Plan’ – is a living record of adjustments agreed between an employee and their manager.

Their purpose is to give the employee and their manager a record of adjustments that have been agreed. They are not supposed to guarantee an employee that they can have the same adjustments if they move to a different role. Adjustments should be reviewed regularly and changed if necessary.

Technology

Person wearing headphones in front of a large screen, a laptop and a notebook.
Person wearing headphones in front of a large screen, a laptop and a notebook.

Technology is part of our everyday lives. It can significantly improve our quality of life, efficiency and effectiveness if it fits our individual needs. However, it can also negatively impact how we live and work.

Information on all things tech and disability can be found here.

Text-to-speech

Text-to-speech software is a tool that is widely available on devices. It reads out text to the user and comes in different accents and genders. It can often be sped up or slowed down for ease of use.

It is a very useful tool for people who find reading challenging but also for people are working in a language that is not their first language, and also as an editing tool.

Tourette’s syndrome

Tourette’s syndrome (TS) is a neurological condition that causes a person to ‘tic’.

Tics are sudden, repetitive, involuntary movements or sounds. For example, repetitive rapid blinking, twitching of the head or making tongue-clicking noises.

People with TS are often diagnosed with other closely related conditions, the most common co-occurring conditions being obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Anxiety and depression are also common.

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Ulcerative colitis

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic condition that causes inflammation and ulceration to the large bowel. It can be very painful and cause other symptoms such as fatigue and eye problems.

It can be classed as both a fluctuating and a recurring condition. There can be long periods of remission for some people.

This disease comes under the heading of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and should not be confused with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

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Vertigo

Vertigo is a symptom and is not a disease or disability itself but is associated with many conditions such as labyrinthitis, Ménière’s disease, multiple sclerosis and migraines.

It is often described as ‘spinning’. Vertigo affects a person’s balance, and they are at increased risk of falls. This has safety implications, and some activities may need to be restricted on a temporary or permanent basis.

Videos

Videos can be a useful communication and learning tool for many people, especially for those who find reading text challenging.

We are increasing the number of videos in our website, and Knowledge Hub, especially in our Toolkits.

All videos should be accessible and have captions.

Visible difference

Visible difference (also known as ‘disfigurement’) is anything on an individual’s face or body that makes them look different. It is estimated that one in five people have a visual difference.

It can be something the person is born with, inherits, develops, or acquires during their life. Examples of common visual differences include burns, amputations, skin conditions, scars, height, and tumours.

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Wellbeing

Employers have should protect and promote the physical and mental wellbeing of their employees.

Employers can make workplace adjustments to reduce or remove the barriers in the workplace, which can harm employees’ health and mental wellbeing. As well as this, people managers should have regular check ins with their team to see how they are doing and if they need support.

Wheelchair user

Someone using a wheelchair on a pavement.
Someone using a wheelchair on a pavement.

Someone using a wheelchair on a pavement.

The term ‘wheelchair user’ is the preferred term for people who use wheelchairs. Other terms can often have a more negative connotation and result in stigma.

Workplace adjustments

The term ‘workplace adjustments’ is often used by employers to replace the legal term ‘reasonable adjustments’ . The two terms are often used interchangeably.

‘Reasonable adjustment’ means an adjustment that is both effective at enabling the disabled individual to perform in their role, and sustainable for the business.

We prefer the term ‘workplace adjustment’ because it does not focus on ‘reasonableness’, which is the minimum legal requirement. Instead, it encourages employers to look at adjustments as something that can benefit everyone and support an inclusive culture.

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If you require this content in a different format, contact enquiries@businessdisabilityforum.org.uk.

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