The universal nature of disability

The chapter firstly presents the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) and the system for classifying impairments, disabilities, and handicaps (ICIDH) published by the World Health Organization with the purpose of improving information on the consequences of disease and setting the scene for the forthcoming revision process. The consequences of diseases and disorders at the level of the body (impairment), the person (disability), and the person as a social being (handicap) are defined and described. In 2001, the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) was approved by the World Health Organization (WHO). In this classification, functioning and disability are viewed as a complex interaction between the health condition of the person and the contextual factors of the environment as well as personal factors. The image produced by this combination of features and dimensions is of “the individual in his/her world”.