How is an individual with a disability defined?

How is an individual with a disability defined?

• A. any individual who has a mental or physical impairment that substantially limits on or more major life activities
• B. someone without any impairment
• C. a passenger who is not able to hear announcements
• D. a person with temporary illness

Answer: (A)

Disability is defined by the impact of a physical or mental impairment on a person’s ability to perform major life activities, not by the presence of a diagnosis alone. The key idea is that the impairment must substantially limit one or more important activities that people rely on in daily life—things like walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, caring for oneself, or working. Because of that substantial limitation criterion, the focus is on how much the condition affects everyday functioning, rather than just existence of an impairment or isolated difficulties. That’s why the best choice describes an individual who has a mental or physical impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. Temporary illnesses or situations that don’t cause a significant, lasting restriction generally don’t meet this standard, and simply not being able to hear in a specific moment doesn’t automatically define someone as disabled unless it substantially limits a major life activity.

Disability is defined by the impact of a physical or mental impairment on a person’s ability to perform major life activities, not by the presence of a diagnosis alone. The key idea is that the impairment must substantially limit one or more important activities that people rely on in daily life—things like walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, caring for oneself, or working. Because of that substantial limitation criterion, the focus is on how much the condition affects everyday functioning, rather than just existence of an impairment or isolated difficulties.

That’s why the best choice describes an individual who has a mental or physical impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. Temporary illnesses or situations that don’t cause a significant, lasting restriction generally don’t meet this standard, and simply not being able to hear in a specific moment doesn’t automatically define someone as disabled unless it substantially limits a major life activity.