Definition of Disability

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The Federal Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA) provides protection for everyone in Australia against discrimination based on discrimination.

The definition of disability in the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 is as broad as possible. It includes: physical, intellectual, psychiatric, sensory, neurological, learning disabilities, physical disfigurement and the presence in the body of disease causing organisms. There are many acts of parliament that are related to the Disability Discrimination Act. There are approximately thirty and include: Community Services Act 1970, Disability Act 2006 and the Mental Health Act 1986.

Disability, with reference to the DDA as it relates to a person means:

Note: This definition of disability refers to discrimination: it does not cover the definition of disability required for a person to be entitled to services under the Victorian Department of Human Services.

The Victorian Disability Act 2006 defines disability as:

This definition, which is more based on the effect the impairment causes, may determine whether a person is entitled to services under Department of Human Services, Disability Services.