Queensland and disability
More than one in five Queenslanders have a disability.
When we think of disability, images such as people using a wheelchair or walking with a guide dog come to mind. However, the types and degree of disability experienced by Queenslanders are far more complex and diverse.
From brain injury as a result of accident to hidden disabilities such as mental illness or autism, the experience of disability is unique and varies greatly from person to person.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics defines disability as a restriction in the ability to
perform a range of tasks, or participate in a range of activities. The extent of the disability is quantified by the degree to which performance of activities and tasks is restricted (Australian Bureau of Statistics 2003).
The World Health Organisation believes that a person's disability is conceived as a dynamic
interaction between health conditions and environmental and personal factors(World Health Organisation 2001).
Although some disabilities are present from birth (for example congenital conditions such as
Down syndrome), most disabilities are acquired throughout life due to injury or disease.
Negative attitudes and stereotypes are a significant disabling factor in our society. In many cases false assumptions about the capabilities of people with a disability, more than a physical impairment, are responsible for preventing people from undertaking work, study, or participating fully in community life.
Last updated November 2007