Disability law in Indian

From
Banerjee, G. (2001) The concept of disability and mental illness. Mental Health Reviews,  Accessed from <http://www.psyplexus.com/excl/cdmi.html> on May 23, 2010
http://www.psyplexus.com/excl/cdmi.html

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At present, measurement of the extent and nature of disability in relation to mental illness is a crying need for both academic and administrative purposes. Such measurements will ensure scientific basis for further study of disability in relation to mental illness. Objective and precise measurement of disability is also necessary for determination of extent of social security benefits for each individual.
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There's some other useful snips.
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In 1993 the United Nations declared that the term “Disability” summarized a great number of different functional limitations occurring in any population in any country of the world. People may be disabled by physical, intellectual or sensory impairment, medical conditions or mental illness. The U.N. has thereby broadened the ambit of the concept of disability and specifically included mental illness in addition to mental retardation as a cause of disability. This authoritative statement has had an appreciable impact on the academicians, administrators, legislators and other policy makers in favour of mentally disabled persons. From a clinical point of view WHO (1992) accepted disability as one of the consequences of mental and behavioral disorders.

Disability in the context of mental disorders may involve following areas of a person’s functioning:

1. Activities of daily living including health care, grooming, dressing, bathing, looking after one’s health etc.

2. Social relationship including communication skill, ability to form relationships and sustain them.

3. Occupational functioning – ability to acquire a job and hold it, cognitive and social skills required for the job, doing home-work or studying as a student.

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And a little on the development of the Indian equivalent of the DDA
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In 1993 the United Nations declared that the term “Disability” summarized a great number of different functional limitations occurring in any population in any country of the world. People may be disabled by physical, intellectual or sensory impairment, medical conditions or mental illness. The U.N. has thereby broadened the ambit of the concept of disability and specifically included mental illness in addition to mental retardation as a cause of disability. This authoritative statement has had an appreciable impact on the academicians, administrators, legislators and other policy makers in favour of mentally disabled persons. From a clinical point of view WHO (1992) accepted disability as one of the consequences of mental and behavioral disorders.

Disability in the context of mental disorders may involve following areas of a person’s functioning:

1. Activities of daily living including health care, grooming, dressing, bathing, looking after one’s health etc.

2. Social relationship including communication skill, ability to form relationships and sustain them.

3. Occupational functioning – ability to acquire a job and hold it, cognitive and social skills required for the job, doing home-work or studying as a student.

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