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Understanding Physical Disability

Upon your loved one’s diagnosis, it is important to seek more information on their disability, its implications, and available interventions. This can help you plan and care for them.

  Key Points

  • Physical disability is the partial or total loss of bodily functions or body parts and it may be present from birth or acquired later in life. 
  • Before meeting the doctor, prepare the relevant information and questions.

Physical disability refers to either a total or partial loss of bodily functions (such as the ability to walk) or a part of the body. This may be present from birth or develop at a later stage due to conditions such as muscular dystrophy1. It may also be acquired because of traffic or industrial accidents, or medical conditions such as stroke or infections.

Physical disability may impact your loved one in the following areas:

Learning more about their specific disability may help you better understand how it would affect your loved one’s future quality of life. This is essential in planning for care and providing support.

Communicating with the doctor

To better understand your loved one’s disability, here is what you can prepare before meeting a doctor:

Prepare information2
  1. Observations of your loved one and concerns, including how physical disability affects their daily life
  2. Loved one’s current and past health issues
  3. Current medication for your loved one (if any), including when and how often they take it, and any side effects observed from taking the medication  

Questions you can ask

  1. What is the diagnosis and cause of physical disability?  
  2. What is the prognosis? Will your loved one be able to regain their bodily functions?
  3. Are there any other issues commonly associated with this disability?
  4. What are the interventions available and their objectives? How will you measure progress?
  5. What outcomes can you expect for your loved one? Are there any restrictions on your loved one’s activities?
Tip: Clarify unfamiliar and technical terms with the doctor. 

 Resources

Learn More About Physical DisabilitiesUnderstand Cerebral PalsyLearn About Muscular Dystrophy

Footnotes:

1https://abafieldshomecare.co.uk/what-are-the-different-types-of-physical-disability/#:~:text=Congenital%20disabilities%20are%20those%20disabilities,result%20of%20illness%20or%20injury

2https://familydoctor.org/caring-for-a-person-who-has-intellectual-or-developmental-disabilities/

  Key Points

  • There are various types of support available for persons with physical disabilities, such as occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech therapy, medication, early intervention, and assistive technology.

Your loved one may benefit from intervention and therapy. To select the most appropriate intervention for them, you can seek professional advice on the options available, their costs, side effects and implications.

In some cases, doctors may prescribe medication to minimise further physical deterioration and deformities. They may also be able to advise you on appropriate assistive technology that your loved one could adopt, if any. You can tap on the Assistive Technology Fund for funding support to help with the cost of these technologies.

Where necessary, occupational therapy, physiotherapy and speech therapy can help your loved one in their rehabilitation. For infants and children with physical disabilities, early intervention would be crucial to help them in their development. Depending on your loved one’s needs and abilities, they can enrol in either a Special Education (SPED) school or mainstream primary school from the age of seven.
 

Interventions may also be costly, so it is important to plan your finances or seek financial aid before making a decision.

Actions to take

  • Explore the various interventions available and seek professional advice. This will help you to make an informed decision on the appropriate care plan for your loved one.
  • Seek early intervention for infants and children with physical disabilities. 
  • Take your finances into account when developing a care plan and evaluating the options available.

 Resources

Set Seating Goals for a Child with Muscular Dystrophy

  Key Points

  • Regular exercise can help you build the physical strength you may need to care for your loved one. 
  • Discuss goals, plans and routines together with your loved one, and if needed, engage the help of a therapist.
  • There are various organisations dedicated to supporting individuals with physical disability such as AWWA, Handicaps Welfare Association, and SPD.

While you can tap on assistive technology and ergonomic handling techniques to help transfer your loved one (e.g., moving them from the bed to the wheelchair), exercising regularly can also help you build up the strength to provide physical assistance for your loved one.

Enhance the mobility and independence of your loved one by ensuring that your home is accessible for them. This can be done by installing fixtures like grab bars and ramps, lowering light switches, widening doorways and rearranging furniture.

Discuss goals and plans to enhance your loved one’s quality of life. Where necessary, you can consult professionals in the healthcare or social service sectors to understand how best to achieve these goals.

You can also work with a therapist to plan a routine for your loved one that aligns with their intervention plans and goals. Involve your family members where possible to provide optimal support for your loved one.

You can approach the following organisations for additional support:

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