What is a disability?

The NDIS defines a disability as a condition that significantly impacts a person's functional capacity and ability to to participate in everyday activities.

Disabilities can be caused by intellectual, cognitive, neurological, sensory, physical or psychosocial impairment that is likely to be lifelong. It is important to remember that not all disabilities are visible and many Australians who have a disability feel unseen.

Some examples of disabilities include:

• Spinal Cord Injury, paraplegia or quadriplegia (Physical)
• Blindness (Sensory)
• Down Syndrome (Intellectual)
• Acquired Brain Injury, ABI (Cognitive)
• Parkinson's Disease, Autism (Neurological)
• Schizophrenia (Psychosocial)

People with disabilities often face hurdles receiving the care and supports that they need to live a life of dignity and to be able to fully participate in society.

In 2013 the Australian government released the NDIS as part of a nation-wide effort to support people with disability and to live up to Australia's commitments to the UN CRPD (United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities).