What is a disability?
Disability can mean different things to different people. Some people are born with a disability, while others develop one later in life. Disabilities can affect a person's physical or mental health, their ability to carry out everyday activities, or both. Some disabilities are visible, while others may not be immediately apparent.
Everyone's experience of disability is different. Depending on their circumstances, some people may find certain everyday activities more challenging, experience pain or fatigue, or need additional support. Others may face barriers that make it harder to take part in aspects of everyday life, such as work, education or social activities.
The environment around us can also have a significant impact on someone's experience of disability. For example, inaccessible public transport, buildings or services, negative attitudes and a lack of appropriate support can create additional challenges. Making these more accessible and inclusive can help remove barriers and enable disabled people to participate more fully in everyday life.
For some people, talking to a counsellor can offer valuable emotional support, whether they're adjusting to changes in their circumstances, navigating challenges or simply looking for a space to explore their feelings and experiences.
Counsellor Martin Campbell MBACP (Accred.), MNCS (Accred.) shares his story of retraining as a counsellor, following a successful previous career as an architect, after he had a stroke, and how therapy helped him come to terms with his disability.
Your rights under the Equality Act 2010
The Equality Act 2010 protects disabled people from discrimination in England, Scotland and Wales. It brought together several existing discrimination laws, including the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, and applies to many areas of everyday life, including education, employment, transport, access to buildings, facilities, goods, and services.
Under the Equality Act 2010, a person is considered disabled if they have a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term negative effect on their ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. 'Substantial' means more than minor or trivial, while 'long-term' generally means lasting, or expected to last, at least 12 months.
People diagnosed with cancer, multiple sclerosis (MS) or HIV are automatically considered disabled under the Act from the point of diagnosis.
The Equality Act 2010 does not apply in Northern Ireland, where separate disability discrimination legislation applies. For more information, visit the Disability Rights UK website.
Types of disability
Disabilities can affect people in different ways, including their physical health, mental health, learning and everyday activities. Some people may experience more than one type of disability, and the impact can vary depending on their individual circumstances.
Physical
Physical disabilities can affect a person's mobility, movement or physical abilities. Examples include muscular dystrophy, spina bifida, spinal cord injuries and cerebral palsy.
Sensory
Sensory disabilities affect one or more of a person's senses, most commonly their sight or hearing. Examples include blindness, partial sight, and hearing loss.
Mental health
Disabilities that affect an individual’s mental health include obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. These fall under the Equality Act 2010 as they can affect the way a person thinks and behaves and can restrict their ability to carry out daily tasks.
GOV.UK explains more about when a mental health condition becomes a disability.
Learning
A learning disability affects how a person understands information, learns new skills and manages certain everyday activities. People with learning disabilities may need different levels of support, depending on their individual needs. Having a learning disability doesn't mean someone is unable to learn, but they may learn at a different pace or need information presented in a more accessible way.
Long-term health conditions
Some long-term health conditions can be considered disabilities when they have a substantial impact on everyday life. These might include conditions that cause ongoing pain, fatigue or other symptoms. The impact can vary from person to person, and some conditions may fluctuate over time.
What support is available for disabled people?
There are many forms of support available for disabled people and their families, depending on their individual needs and circumstances.
Depending on their circumstances, disabled people may be entitled to financial support or benefits, whether they're working or not. Advice and support may also be available to help with applications. The NHS also provides a range of support services to help manage disabilities. For those studying, universities often offer a student services team. This can help the individual get the right support throughout their studies, whether that is accommodation help or learning support.
Support is also available for people who care for a disabled family member, partner or friend. Depending on their circumstances, carers may be able to access practical advice, local support groups or respite care, giving them time to rest and attend to their own needs. Charities and local services can provide information about the options available.
Disability counselling
Disability counselling can provide emotional support to disabled people, as well as their partners, families and carers. It offers a space to talk about your experiences, explore any challenges you may be facing and consider what support might be helpful.
Everyone's experience of disability is different. Some people may find adjusting to a new disability or changes in their circumstances challenging, while others may experience difficulties relating to accessibility, relationships or a lack of support.
These experiences can sometimes affect emotional wellbeing, contributing to feelings of stress, anxiety or isolation. Counselling offers a safe, supportive space to explore your feelings, worries and concerns without judgement. A counsellor can help you better understand your experiences, develop coping strategies and find ways to manage any challenges you're facing.
What should I be looking for in a counsellor?
When you’re looking for a counsellor, you may want to find out if they have experience or training in working with disabled people, carers and/or specific types of disabilities. Some therapists specialise in working with certain health conditions and have specialist skills in these areas.
Therapists should also be able to explain the type of counselling they offer. Some therapies, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), are more structured and may help you explore unhelpful thought patterns, manage difficult emotions and develop coping strategies.
Other approaches, such as psychodynamic psychotherapy, are more exploratory and may help you understand and process feelings about your experiences or caring responsibilities. Which therapy is right for you will depend on your individual needs and what you hope to gain from counselling.
If you're considering counselling, finding someone who understands your experiences and needs can make a difference. You can explore our directory to find a counsellor who offers disability support and take the next step when you feel ready.
