Disability vs. Handicap — What's the Difference?
By Fiza Rafique & Urooj Arif — Updated on March 20, 2024
Disability refers to physical or mental impairments, while a handicap is a barrier imposed by society on individuals with disabilities, affecting their full participation.
Difference Between Disability and Handicap
Table of Contents
ADVERTISEMENT
Key Differences
Disability is an umbrella term for impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions that affect an individual's physical, mental, or sensory functions. These can be congenital or acquired through accident, illness, or aging. In contrast, a handicap is a disadvantage that arises when the environment or society fails to accommodate the diverse needs of individuals with disabilities. While disabilities relate to personal health conditions or impairments, handicaps are the result of external societal and environmental barriers.
Disabilities can manifest in various forms such as physical impairments affecting mobility, sensory impairments like hearing or vision loss, intellectual impairments, or mental health conditions. Handicaps, on the other hand, are created by societal attitudes, inaccessible environments, and policies that do not take into account the needs of people with disabilities, thus hindering their ability to participate fully and equally in society.
The concept of disability focuses on the individual's health condition and its impact on personal functioning. Meanwhile, handicaps emphasize the interaction between the individual's disability and societal barriers. For example, a person in a wheelchair (disability) may be handicapped by a building without ramps or elevators, not by their physical condition itself.
Efforts to address disabilities often involve medical treatment, rehabilitation, and assistive technologies to improve function or alleviate the impact of the impairment. Conversely, reducing handicaps requires societal change, such as implementing policies for inclusion, accessibility improvements, and public awareness campaigns to shift societal perceptions and eliminate discrimination.
Understanding the distinction between disability and handicap is crucial for developing effective policies and practices that not only support individuals with disabilities but also transform societal structures to be more inclusive, ensuring that all individuals have the opportunity to participate fully in society without being handicapped by environmental and attitudinal barriers.
ADVERTISEMENT
Comparison Chart
Definition
A condition of the body or mind that makes it more difficult for the person to do certain activities and interact with the world around them.
A disadvantage imposed on an individual or group by society, environment, or oneself, due to a disability.
Origin
Can be congenital or acquired.
Arises from societal and environmental barriers.
Focus
On the individual’s impairments and limitations.
On societal barriers and attitudes preventing full participation.
Examples
Vision impairment, hearing loss, mental health conditions.
Inaccessible public buildings, employment discrimination.
Mitigation
Medical treatment, rehabilitation, assistive devices.
Accessibility standards, inclusive policies, awareness programs.
Compare with Definitions
Disability
Affects individuals uniquely, requiring personalized support.
Each person with a disability may need different accommodations at work.
Handicap
A social or environmental barrier.
A lack of sign language interpreters handicaps deaf individuals in education.
Disability
A condition limiting major life activities.
Blindness is a disability that affects vision.
Handicap
Can be overcome with societal change.
Inclusive hiring practices can remove handicaps in employment for people with disabilities.
Disability
Includes physical, mental, sensory, and cognitive impairments.
Autism is a disability that impacts communication and behavior.
Handicap
Emphasizes the role of external factors.
Inaccessible websites handicap people with visual impairments online.
Disability
Can be visible or invisible to others.
Chronic pain is a disability that may not be visible but significantly affects daily life.
Handicap
Relates to disadvantage rather than the condition itself.
Prejudice against mental illness is a handicap in social acceptance.
Disability
Focuses on the individual's condition.
Mobility impairments limit a person's ability to walk or move freely.
Handicap
Results from inadequate accommodation of disabilities.
Stairs without an elevator handicap wheelchair users.
Disability
A disability is any medical condition that makes it more difficult for a person to do certain activities or effectively interact with the world around them (socially or materially). These conditions, or impairments, may be cognitive, developmental, intellectual, mental, physical, sensory, or a combination of multiple factors.
Handicap
A circumstance that makes progress or success difficult
Not being able to drive was something of a handicap
Disability
A physical or mental condition that significantly limits a person's motor, sensory, or cognitive abilities.
Handicap
A condition that markedly restricts a person's ability to function physically, mentally, or socially
He was born with a significant visual handicap
Disability
The state of having such a condition
Discrimination based on disability.
Handicap
A disadvantage imposed on a superior competitor in sports such as golf, horse racing, and competitive sailing in order to make the chances more equal.
Disability
A program that provides financial support to people with such conditions
Has been on disability for a month.
Handicap
Act as an impediment to
Lack of funding has handicapped the development of research
Disability
The economic assistance provided by such a program
Has been getting disability since the accident.
Handicap
A race or contest in which contestants are given advantages or compensations to equalize the chances of winning.
Disability
(Law) Lack of legal capacity to perform some act, such as to enter into a contract, because of infancy or lack of soundness of mind.
Handicap
Such an advantage or penalty.
Disability
State of being disabled; deprivation or want of ability; absence of competent physical, intellectual, or moral power, means, fitness, and the like.
Handicap
Usage Problem A physical or mental disability. See Usage Note at handicapped.
Disability
A mental condition causing a difficulty with an intellectual task.
Dyscalculia is math disability.
Handicap
A disadvantage or inconvenience.
Disability
(disability theory) An inability imposed on a person by society's failure to accommodate their physical or mental differences from others, as opposed to impairment.
Handicap
Sports & Games To assign handicaps or a handicap to (a contestant).
Disability
Want of legal qualification to do a thing; legal incapacity or incompetency.
Handicap
To cause to be at a disadvantage; impede.
Disability
Regular payments received by a disabled person, usually from the state
I had to go on disability after the accident.
Did you get your disability this month?
Handicap
Handicapped.
Disability
State of being disabled; deprivation or want of ability; absence of competent physical, intellectual, or moral power, means, fitness, and the like.
Grossest faults, or disabilities to perform what was covenanted.
Chatham refused to see him, pleading his disability.
Handicap
Something that prevents, hampers, or hinders.
Age is often a handicap.
Disability
Want of legal qualification to do a thing; legal incapacity or incompetency.
The disabilities of idiocy, infancy, and coverture.
Handicap
(sports) An allowance of a certain amount of time or distance in starting, granted in a race (or other contest of skill) to the competitor possessing disadvantages; or an additional weight or other hindrance imposed upon the one possessing advantages, in order to equalize, as much as possible, the chances of success.
The older boy won, even though his opponent had been granted a handicap of five meters.
A handicap in chess often involves removal of the queen's rook.
Disability
The condition of being unable to perform as a consequence of physical or mental unfitness;
Reading disability
Hearing impairment
Handicap
(sometimes considered offensive) The disadvantage itself, in particular physical or mental disadvantages of people.
Handicap
A race or similar contest in which there is an allowance of time, distance, weight, or other advantage, to equalize the chances of the competitors.
Handicap
An old card game, similar to lanterloo.
Handicap
Syn of hand-in-cap
Handicap
(transitive) To encumber with a handicap in any contest.
Handicap
To place at disadvantage.
The candidate was handicapped by her lack of experience.
Handicap
To estimate betting odds.
Grandpa Andy would buy the racing form the day ahead of time so he could handicap the race before he even arrived at the track.
Handicap
An allowance of a certain amount of time or distance in starting, granted in a race to the competitor possessing inferior advantages; or an additional weight or other hindrance imposed upon the one possessing superior advantages, in order to equalize, as much as possible, the chances of success; as, the handicap was five seconds, or ten pounds, and the like.
Handicap
A race, for horses or men, or any contest of agility, strength, or skill, in which there is an allowance of time, distance, weight, or other advantage, to equalize the chances of the competitors.
Handicap
An old game at cards.
Handicap
A physical or mental disability of the body which makes normal human activities more difficult or impossible; as, his deformed leg was a major handicap in walking.
Handicap
Any disadvantage that makes an activity more difficult or impossible; as, insufficient capital was a big handicap in competing against Microsoft.
Handicap
To encumber with a handicap in any contest; hence, in general, to place at disadvantage; as, the candidate was heavily handicapped.
Handicap
The condition of being unable to perform as a consequence of physical or mental unfitness;
Reading disability
Hearing impairment
Handicap
Advantage given to a competitor to equalize chances of winning
Handicap
Something immaterial that interferes with or delays action or progress
Handicap
Injure permanently;
He was disabled in a car accident
Handicap
Attempt to forecast the winner (especially in a horse race) and assign odds for or against a contestant
Handicap
Put at a disadvantage;
The brace I have to wear is hindering my movements
Common Curiosities
What is the difference between disability and handicap?
Disability refers to impairments and limitations of the individual, while handicap refers to societal and environmental barriers faced by individuals with disabilities.
Are mental health conditions considered disabilities?
Yes, mental health conditions that significantly impact daily life are considered disabilities.
Can a disability exist without a handicap?
Yes, if society fully accommodates and includes individuals with disabilities, effectively eliminating handicaps.
Can environmental design reduce handicaps?
Yes, universal design and accessible environments can significantly reduce handicaps for people with disabilities.
Is there legal protection against handicaps?
Many countries have laws to prevent discrimination and promote accessibility, offering legal protection against handicaps.
How can handicaps be reduced or eliminated?
Through accessibility improvements, inclusive policies, and changing societal attitudes towards disability.
What role does technology play in addressing disabilities and handicaps?
Assistive technologies can improve functioning for those with disabilities and help overcome handicaps by facilitating accessibility and inclusion.
Is every person with a disability handicapped?
Not necessarily; handicaps depend on the extent to which society accommodates disabilities.
Is aging considered a disability?
Aging itself is not a disability, but it may lead to conditions that can be classified as disabilities.
Can employment policies impact handicaps?
Yes, inclusive employment policies can reduce handicaps by ensuring equal opportunities for people with disabilities.
What is the global approach to disability and handicap?
The global approach is increasingly towards inclusion and accessibility, recognizing the rights of individuals with disabilities to participate fully in society.
How do cultural perceptions of disability influence handicaps?
Cultural perceptions and stigma can exacerbate handicaps by fostering discrimination and exclusion.
What is the importance of language in discussing disability and handicap?
Language reflects and can influence societal attitudes, so using respectful and inclusive language is important.
How do personal attitudes affect the perception of disability and handicap?
Personal attitudes can either contribute to or help reduce the handicaps faced by individuals with disabilities, depending on their nature.
How does education play a role in changing perceptions of disability and handicap?
Education can raise awareness, reduce stigma, and promote a more inclusive society by changing perceptions.
Share Your Discovery
Previous Comparison
Geek vs. Anorak
Next Comparison
Cattle vs. LivestockAuthor Spotlight
Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
