What is a disability - 8/10/2004

What is a disability?

A disability is a problem that affects our ability to do things.

    Some kids may have trouble walking and may need a cane, crutches, walker or wheelchair. Other kids may not be able to use their arms very well. Kids may need help moving around for many reasons. Their disability is a mobility limitation.

    Some kids can’t see well or at all. A person who can’t see, or is blind, has a vision limitation. Braille is helpful tool for some people with vision limitations. Braille is a system of raised dots that form letters and words. Braille is read by feeling the dots.

    Kids who can’t hear well or at all are hearing impaired, or deaf. Some people use hearing aids to improve their hearing. Some hearing-limited people use sign language, a language that uses hand gestures to speak. Gestures can mean words or letters of the alphabet.

    Disabilities also can affect learning and growing and the ability to care for oneself. It may be hard to do math, read, write or even learn a new sport. Kids who have trouble with some areas of learning have a learning disability.

    There are many types of disabilities. Some kids are disabled because of injuries. Some kids are disabled because of other health problems like diabetes or cancer.

Word search

After reading the stories, fill in the blanks in the following sentences. Most of the answers are in bold in the information on the page to help you. Correct answers appear at the bottom of the page

1. _____________ come in all shapes and sizes.

2. A _____________ affects our ability to do things.

3. Someone with a mobility limitation might use a _____________.

4. _____________ is a system of raised dots, used by some people with sight limitations.

5. _____________ is made up of hand gestures that form letters and words.

6. Albert Einstein may have had a _____________ disability because he had trouble learning language.

1.Kids, 2. Disability, 3. Wheelchair, 4. Braille, 5. Sign Language, 6. Learning