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What Is Considered To Be A Disability

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Does Your Condition Meet A Listing

Can Rheumatoid Arthritis Be Considered a Disability?

First, your doctor must diagnosis you with a disability under the Listings. There are some conditions that will qualify you for disability with a diagnosis alone. Some examples include:

  • ALS
  • An organ transplant or
  • Certain cancers such as esophageal cancer, mucosal melanoma, anaplastic carcinoma of the thyroid gland or small-cell carcinoma

Generally, just a diagnosis of a disability is not enough. The Listings of Impairments set out the requirements for how severe the symptoms are affecting you. SSA will review clinical findings and laboratory tests to determine if your disability meets the listing. If you have not had the clinical or laboratory tests required in the listing, you can ask your doctor to perform them.

Washington Group On Disability Statistics

The Washington Group , founded in 2001, surveys disability. They consider disability an umbrella term. It involves impairment, activity limits, or participation limits.

Disabled people have limited access to work, school, and/or social opportunities. If the person would have this problem in any country, then they count as disabled.

What Medical Conditions Qualify For Short

To qualify for short-term disability your medical condition must prevent you from doing your regular job duties. You must show how the symptoms or impairments from your medical condition interfere with your ability to perform you job duties.

To do this you will need to have an official list of your job duties. Then you can get your doctor review the list of duties and confirm that you cannot perform the majority of these duties because of your medical condition.

Most short term disaibltiy plans will require you to be continuously disabled for 7 days or so before you can qualify for benefits. This is called a waiting period or elimination period.

Following is an example of typical wording of the disability requirement for a short-term disability plan. Please note this is only an example, the exact wording is different for each plan:

An employee is entitled to payment of a short-term disability benefit if that employee proves that:

  • the employee became totally disabled while covered
  • the total disability has continued beyoned the elimintation period
  • the employee has been following appropriate treatment for the disabling condition

An employee wil be considered totally disabled while the employee is continuously unable due to an illness to do the essentional duties of the employees own occupation in any setting.

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Evidence Of A Current Disabling Illness Or Condition

Medical evidence is required for proving existence of a current disabling illness or condition that is suspected or known to be caused from active duty service. The Regional Office will usually want to see the VA healthcare medical file or the current private medical file of the claimant pertaining to the disabling illness or condition that is being claimed. You should be aware that the Regional Office does not want to see medical records that are not pertinent. They are useless and end up bogging down the decision process. It is important that the condition be persistent or long-lasting and not temporary in nature. VA will want to see evidence of the continuity of the symptoms of the disability or the condition from discharge or reasons why that is not the case.

Your current medical records pertaining to the disability may not actually identify a disability associated with your illness or other condition. In other words, your doctors may devote a great deal of information pertaining to diagnosis, treatment and prognosis but not even mention disability. This is also not always useful information as it requires VA to infer from the records that there may be a disability or there may not be.

Symptoms Of Selective Mutism

What is Considered a Disability? Disability Help Group ...

Symptoms of SelectiveMutism include temperamental inhibition, social anxiety symptoms, social being,physical symptoms such as tummy ache, nausea, vomiting, joint pains, headaches,chest pain and shortness of breath, appearance of a frozen-looking face,developmental delays, and other common symptoms such as picky eating, bladderissues, sensitivity to crowds, avoiding bright lights, and disliking loud sounds.

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Is Your Condition Found In The List Of Disabling Conditions

For each of the major body systems, we maintain a list of medical conditions that we consider severe enough that it prevents a person from doing substantial gainful activity. If your condition is not on the list, we have to decide if it is as severe as a medical condition that is on the list. If it is, we will find that you are disabled. If it is not, we then go to Step 4.

We have two initiatives designed to expedite our processing of new disability claims:

  • Compassionate Allowances: Certain cases that usually qualify for disability can be allowed as soon as the diagnosis is confirmed. Examples include acute leukemia, Lou Gehrigs disease , and pancreatic cancer.
  • Quick Disability Determinations: We use sophisticated computer screening to identify cases with a high probability of allowance.

For more information about our disability claims process, visit our Benefits For People With Disabilities website.

What Steps Should An Employer Take If Asking An Applicant To Self

If an employer invites applicants to voluntarily self-identify, the employer must indicate clearly and conspicuously on any written questionnaire used for this purpose, or state clearly , that:

  • The information requested is intended for use solely in connection with its affirmative action obligations or its voluntary affirmative action efforts and
  • The specific information is being requested on a voluntary basis, it will be kept confidential in accordance with the ADA, that refusal to provide it will not subject the employee to any adverse treatment, and that it will be used only in accordance with the ADA.

Information collected for affirmative action purposes must be kept separate from the application to ensure that confidentiality is maintained. The Code of Federal Regulations provides a Sample Invitation to Self-Identify for federal contractors who are considered covered entities under VEVRAA.

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Is Selective Mutism A Rare Genetic Anxiety Disorder

According to the National Organization for Rare Disorders, selective mutism is rare since its found in less than 1% of children. Like any other mental condition , selective mutism is categorized as a mental illness. It is not a choice an individual makes about speaking or not speaking.

The exact cause of selective mutism is unknown, and the research in selective mutism mentions a plethora of conditions and predispositions that cause selective mutism in a child. Among those conditions are genetic influence, environmental factors, personal and family characteristics, and many others.

Since the research on selective mutism is scarce, its generally accepted that selective mutism causes are relatively unknown and hard to pinpoint.

Children affected by selective mutism display anxiety disorder in various ways: some children have more severe symptoms, others have mild symptoms.

Even though the causes of selective mutism are not due to the underlying physical abnormality, selective mutism is considered to be a disability since it is characterized as a persistent failure to speak in certain social situations where speaking is expected.

When undiagnosed and/ or untreated, selective mutism can culminate in other debilitating conditions and consequences such as:

  • Worsening anxiety
  • The diagnostic criteria for selective mutism are:

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    Social Security Evaluates Disability According To A Long List Of Laws And Regulations There Is No Simple Answer

    What is DISABILITY? What does DISABILITY mean? DISABILITY meaning, definition & explanation

    Updated By Bethany K. Laurence, Attorney

    What constitutes disability? For Social Security disability or SSI purposes, to be considered disabled, individuals must have an impairment, either medical, psychological, or psychiatric in nature, that keeps them from being able to do a substantial amount of work. In addition, a person’s impairment must have prevented the individual from doing a substantial amount of work for at least 12 months, or be expected to prevent work for at least 12 months.

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    National Center For Health Statistics

    Gerry Hendershot described problems with defining disability in 2002. The way we view disability is changing.

    People used to see disabled people as diseased or broken. This was deeply stigmatizing. Now people are starting to consider disability to be related to discrimination. They say its a deficit in how the community includes people.

    The old way of thinking focused on getting rid of disability using medical means. The new way focuses on getting rid of disability by letting everyone participate. This is the social model of disability.

    The problem is still the same: society shuts out people with certain limitations. Getting rid of limitations isnt always possible. Now, people are starting to focus on how to let disabled people in.

    This opens more doors. Under the old way of thinking, if someone couldnt walk, they should get surgery or intense therapy. If that didnt work, that was it.

    However, under the social model, buildings should have elevators and ramps. More problems can be solved. Now people can participate even if there is no cure.

    A Broader Approach To Understanding Disability: A Social Perspective

    The Supreme Court of Canada has shed new light on the approach to be taken in understanding disability. In Mercier, a case arising in Quebec, the Supreme Court made it clear that disability must be interpreted to include its subjective component, since discrimination may be based as much on perceptions, myths and stereotypes as on the existence of actual functional limitations.

    In Mercier, the complainants were denied employment or dismissed when it was discovered that they had medical conditions. However, their conditions did not result in any functional limitations. The employers argued that since the conditions did not give rise to any functional limitations, they could not be disabilities under Quebecs human rights law. The Supreme Court of Canada disagreed.

    The Court chose not to create an exhaustive definition of disability. Instead, it opted for an equality-based framework that takes into account evolving biomedical, social and technological developments. This includes a socio-political dimension that emphasizes human dignity, respect and the right to equality. Thus, a disability may be the result of a physical limitation, an ailment, a perceived limitation or a combination of all these factors. The focus is on the effects of the distinction, preference or exclusion experienced by the person and not on proof of physical limitations or the presence of an ailment.

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    An Overview Of Social Security’s Definition Of Disabled How They Determine Who Is Disabled And Who Should Be Eligible For Monthly Benefits

    By Aaron Hotfelder, J.D., University of Missouri School of Law

    Social Security’s definition of legally disabled is different from that of other programs. The Social Security Administration administers benefits to disabled individuals under two programs, Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income . SSDI is available to disabled individuals who have worked for a certain number of years and paid taxes into the Social Security program. SSI, on the other hand, is a needs-based program and eligibility depends upon a person’s income and resources. It is not uncommon for a person to qualify for both programs, although this will depend on a person’s work history and financial situation.

    How Does Mutism Affect People

    Why English Literacy Should Not Be Considered in Federal ...

    A consistent and unexplained fear of communication with others can have debilitating effects on a human being, irrespective of the age. Not only it discourages a healthy mental and social development, the underlying anxiety and associated fears show in the persons academic and professional performance. They often avoid active participation in activities because that would yield in others focussing their attention on the patient and would most possibly include the patient talking.

    Since they are eternally clouded with the fear of being the centre of attraction or in general making mistakes and being noticed, a substantial amount of effort is spent in avoiding such gatherings in general. This in turn gives people an impression that the patient is anti-social and is just segregated from the normal crowd. Growing up in such a tormenting environment, where every step is pre-calculated owing to unknown fears , snatches away the opportunity from the child of a happy , healthy and normal childhood.

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    What Does Va Presumptive List Mean

    As stated earlier, the VA Presumptive List is a record of illnesses that the VA can presumably cover for compensation even without an in-service connection.

    This means that these disabilities were not acquired during or caused by the veterans active duty, and do not appear in any of his/her service medical records. It covers disabilities that sprung after the time of duty. It also covers conditions burdening the veteran prior to enlistment but was deemed aggravated only after his/her time of service. The latter can fall under presumptive disabilities provided that the degeneration can be linked to the qualifications of VA Presumptive List .

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    What Is A Presumptive Condition

    The VA Presumptive list is filled with presumptive conditions that veterans can receive compensation for. A presumptive condition is any disability or illness that the VA presumes to be caused by military service. To qualify for the VA presumptive list, a veteran must have served at least 90 continuous days of active service unless otherwise specified.

    All conditions on this list will automatically be considered service-connected unless there is clear evidence that it was not caused by service. For example, typically, a brain hemorrhage that develops 12 months after military service is presumed to be connected. However, if the individual was in a car accident 3 months after leaving the military, which clearly caused a head injury that led to the brain hemorrhage, the condition will not likely be service-connected.

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    Va Presumptive List Of Tropical Diseases

    Depending on the location in which a veteran served, they may qualify for certain presumptive conditions associated with that location. As long as a tropical disease manifests to 10 percent within 12 months of serving in that tropical location, the illness or disease will be considered service-connected.

    The VA presumptive list of tropical diseases which are considered service-connected is as follows:

    • Amebiasis
    • Yellow fever
    • Any disorders that result from these diseases or originate due to the administered therapy/treatment

    Some of these diseases are known to have periods of incubation after infection and before symptoms in which the veteran may not know they have the disease. For the illnesses that are medically known to have a lengthy incubation period beyond the 12-month limit, they will still be considered service-connected.

    The Disability Reference Guide: Its Purpose And Function

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    The Disability Reference Guide is a tool for identifying, clarifying and promoting policies to address issues that affect people with disabilities. While the objective of the Guide is to help ensure that federal programs , policies and services maintain or enhance the social and economic inclusion of people with disabilities , much of the Guides content may be of use to other governments, organizations or institutions.

    The Guide can help to ensure that legislation, policies, programs and services:

    • are inclusive of people with disabilities
    • respect the rights and needs of people with disabilities and,
    • promote positive attitudes and raise awareness about the needs of people with disabilities in order to prevent unintended negative outcomes.

    Electing to use the Guide will help employees to:

    • systematically assess and address the impacts of all initiatives on people with disabilities
    • obtain a more nuanced understanding of the multi-dimensional challenges that impact people with disabilities
    • build partnerships across government departments, and with NGOs and other stakeholders that work with and represent people with disabilities and,
    • act as a resource in the creation of policies and programs that reflect of the rights and needs of people with disabilities.

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    Where Can I Get Information About Accommodating Service Members Veterans Or Others With Ptsd And Tbi

    Employers can receive information about accommodating service members, veterans or others with PTSD and TBI from , a free consulting service that provides individualized worksite accommodations solutions and technical assistance. Other information and support services are available from their local Vet Center, the National Center for PTSD, and the ADA National Network.

    The Greatest Guide To Medical Disability Definition

    Disability organizations hold important first-hand understanding and competence on disability-related issues. Stakeholder assessment is an effective method to use this expertise, as is interesting people with disabilities and their households in the policy-making procedure. For a list of national disability organizations, please consult the following link:http://www. ilcanada.ca/ article/national-disability-organizations -334 – what is considered to be a disability. asp. The names of over 5,000 national, provincial, and local special needs organizations are noted at:http://www.

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    Does The State Support People With Disabilities

    The German state supports people with disabilities to compensate for the disadvantages they have to face due to their conditions. This regulation is called “disadvantage compensation” . Disabled people can, for instance, benefit from the following:

    • Special medical care
    • Assistance in job hunting or protection from dismissal
    • A household helper
    • Cost-free use of buses & trains
    • Early retirement
    • Lower taxes

    But not every person with a disability is entitled to all of these special supports. Your personal condition determines if such support options apply to you and when so, from which ones you can benefit.

    To apply for support from the state, you must first register for a “Disability Card” . Only people with a severe disability can obtain this card. To apply for a “Disability Card”, you must fill the relevant form and hand it in to your local Pension Office . You can find the proper office at integrationsaemter.de. In case your GdB is lower than 50, you may still be able to benefit from the support you need under some circumstances. To do so, seek help from a counselling centre.

    Please note: You can apply for a “Disability Card” regardless of your residence status, which means even if you are still in the asylum procedure or have a Tolerated Stay , you can still obtain a “Disability Card”.

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