1. The Disability Services Commission has developed this training package for public authorities to use in staff training

2. About Disability Section One

3. This section covers: What is a disability? Types of disability Causes of disability Impact of disability Prevalence in WA Future trends in disability

4. What is a disability? Any continuing condition that restricts everyday activities. Affects capacity to communicate, interact, learn and / or get about independently. Usually permanent but maybe episodic.

5. Types of disability Sensory Neurological Physical Intellectual Cognitive Psychiatric

6. Causes of disability Genetically determined Environmentally determined Of unknown cause

7. Impact of disability The exact impact varies according to: the specific nature and severity person’s strength, stamina, size, weight and age person’s ability to cope the physical, social and economic environment.

8. Prevalence in WA 405,500 (20.6%) of Western Australians have a disability. 246,800 (12.6%) people are carers. One in 17 people aged 15 years and over has a disability and is a carer.

9. Future trends in disability The number of Western Australians with disabilities is increasing. There will be 615,500 Western Australians with a disability in 20 years time – a 115% increase

10. Resources WA Disability Services Act 1993 ww.slp.wa.gov.au Oral histories (by people in the disability field on their experiences with disability in Western Australia; housed at the Battye Library) Lost Generations project - (short films capturing the essence of individuals with disabilities; available through the Commission’s Accommodation directorate) Australian Bureau of Statistics www.abs.gov.au