Definitions

Multiple

Sclerosis

Multiple Sclerosis is a chronic, immune-mediated disease in which the immune system attacks myelin around nerve fibers.

When myelin and nerves are damaged in the central nervous system, the ability of the nerve is now altered or stops altogether.

This damage prevents communication between the brain and parts of the body. There are four types that vary with the way symptoms present as well as the progression of the disease.

Intellectual

Disability

Intellectual disability is one that can cause limitations to intellectual functioning and social skills.

Intellectual Functioning is commonly known as intelligence. Intelligence incorporates cognitive capacity, problem-solving skills, and learning.

An IQ test is used to diagnose impairment in intellectual functioning. If a person scores below a 75 they may be diagnosed with an intellectual disability.

Autism

Autism and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a group of complex neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by repetitive and characteristic patterns of behavior and difficulties with social communication and interaction.

Skill deficits and challenges associated with ASD will vary greatly from child to child.

Includes social, communication, and behavioral challenges (problems range from mild to severe)

Deaf

A medical/audiological term referring to those people who have little or no functional hearing.

May also be used as a collective noun (“the deaf”) to refer to people who are medically deaf but who do not necessarily identify with the Deaf community.

Muscular

Dystrophy

Muscular dystrophy is a genetic disease of the muscular system characterized by gradual loss of muscle tone resulting in physical disability; the disease typically begins in one group of muscles then progresses to others.

There are over thirty types that differ in their severity and progression.

Neurological

Disabiity

Neurological disability is caused by an injury to the nervous system (brain and spinal cord) which can lead to motor and intellectual delay.

When the body’s nervous system is damaged, which can lead to the Injury of the brain or spinal cord can cause a motor and intellectual dysfunction.

Physical Disabilities

Physical Disabilities may affect, either temporarily or permanently, a person’s physical capacity and/or mobility.

This may include people with an amputation(s) or paralysis.

There are many different causes but they can include inherited or genetic disorders, serious illnesses, and injury.

Blind

is a lack of vision. It may also refer to a loss of vision that cannot be corrected with glasses or contact lenses.

Partial blindness means you have very limited vision.
Complete blindness means you cannot see anything and DO NOT see light. (Most people who use the term "blindness" mean complete blindness.)

People with vision that is worse than 20/200 with glasses or contact lenses are considered legally blind in most states in the United States.

DeafBlind

Deafblind is a term used when a person has a combination of both impaired vision and hearing.