Youth with disabilities are under-represented in the Canadian workforce. They face more physical and social barriers to employment than “able-bodied” youth do, as a result of physical limitations due to the their disability, a lack of educational materials that are geared to their specific concerns, and various societal limitations. It is important for employers and youth with disabilities to understand that there are a wide range of disabilities which affect the individual’s functioning in one or more areas of daily living.
Disability is difficult to define because there are different definitions of a disability.
Disabilities can be visible- for example, a wheelchair or cane, or can be invisible-for example, a psychiatric condition, or a learning disability.
The Board of Directors of the PEI Council of People with Disabilities defines a "person with a disability" as a “human who, through disease, illness, a condition present at birth, or a traumatic experience, is impaired in functioning in one or more areas of daily living.
This impairment causes unusual and undue dependency on one or more other humans, animals and/or assistive devices” (Definition of “Disability”).
Impairment: Any loss or abnormality of psychological or anatomical structure or function (Definition of “Disability”).
Disability: Any restriction or lack (resulting from an impairment) of ability to perform an activity in the manner or within the range considered to be at the highest potential for an individual (Definition of “Disability”).
Learning Disabilities: Refer to a number of disorders which may affect the organization, memory, understanding or use of verbal or nonverbal information. (Definition of “Learning Disability”).
