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Definitions of Disability

The Federal Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA) provides protection for everyone in Australia against discrimination based on discrimination.

The definition of disability in the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 is as broad as possible. It includes: physical, intellectual, psychiatric, sensory, neurological, learning disabilities, physical disfigurement and the presence in the body of disease causing organisms.

There are many acts of parliament that are related to the Disability Discrimination Act. There are approximately thirty and include: Community Services Act 1970, Intellectually Disabled Persons Act 1986 and the Mental Health Act 1986.

Disability, in relation to a person, means:

1. total or partial loss of the person's bodily or mental functions; or
2. total or partial loss of a part of the body; or
3. the presence in the body of organisms causing disease or illness; or
4. the presence in the body of organisms capable of causing disease or illness; or
5. the malfunction, malformation or disfigurement of a part of the person's body; or
6. a disorder or malfunction that results in the person learning differently from a person without the disorder or malfunction; or
7. a disorder, illness or disease that affects a person's thought processes, perception of reality, emotions or judgment or that results in disturbed behaviour; and includes a disability that:
   1. presently exists; or
   2. previously existed but no longer exists; or may exist in the future; or
   3. is imputed to a person.

Common acronyms or abbreviations

• DHS - Department of Human Services. The government organisation responsible for funding and providing support and services for people in Victoria .
• ACFE - Adult Community and Further Education. Statewide government body that provide funding and direction for adult education.
• OTTE - Office of Training and Tertiary Education. Responsible for planning, regulation and delivery of a range of education and training programsand services in Victoria .
• ARATA - Australian Rehabilitation and Assistive Technology Association. Their purpose is to serve as a forum for information sharing and liaison between people who are involved with assistive technology.
• VALBEC - the Victorian Literacy and Education Council. Aims to lead the adult literacy field through identifying issues and facilitating positive change.
• TADVIC - Technical Aid to the Disabled. Organisation whose volunteer members design, construct or modify equipment for people with disabilities provided no commercially available product or service meets their needs.