Being and becoming:Social exclusion and the onset of disability

The majority of disabled people experience the onset of their health problem or impairment inadulthood. According to a survey carried out in the mid-1990s, 11 per cent of disabled adultsof working age were born with a health problem or impairment, 12 per cent became disabledduring childhood, and the remaining three-quarters became disabled during working life. Theonset of a serious health problem or impairment may be sudden (for example, as the result ofan accident), or gradual (for example, a worsening of a chronic condition), but in either casethe adjustments required to everyday life can be considerable. Aside from managing the pain,discomfort and inconvenience which may be caused directly by the condition, changes maybe imposed by new needs for financial and practical support, having to negotiate inaccessiblebuildings, transport or information, and dealing with discriminatory attitudes on the part ofemployers, service providers and the general public. The impact is likely to vary considerablyaccording to the individual’s circumstances – whether they live alone or with a partner, forexample, their previous income and employment – and also by the type and severity of theirnewly-acquired impairment or condition.[...]