Social, legislative, and clinical influences on defining disability: implications for information management

Making a clear distinction between illness and disability, as well as between organic, individual, and social components of disability, has important implications for clinical practice, research, development of social policy, and equalization of opportunity for people with disabilities. The influence of social and legislative change arising from social movements of people with disabilities, and advancements in rehabilitation medicine and assistive technology, have resulted in major changes in understanding all these components of disability. The role of information management professionals in clarifying and applying these concepts, as well as providing clear, accurate, and complete data, is of critical importance in efforts to prevent, remediate, and offset the social consequences of all aspects of disability.