You likely know someone with a disability. Maybe you have one yourself. They’re quite common, and even if someone doesn’t have a condition when they’re born, they can develop one.
About one in every four adults has a disability, so any time you’re walking along a street with a row of houses, you can feel certain some of the individuals around you qualify. You can see some disabilities but not others. That’s why, even if someone seems able-bodied, you should not automatically assume what they can and can’t do. The same rule applies if someone seems limited in some way. You simply don’t know their physical or mental status.
Some people have disabilities that impact their lives a great deal. They might function on some level, but often, they can’t work, or they can only do certain jobs. In this article, we’ll talk about disabilities that limit adults or prevent them from working.
You never know when you’ll sustain an injury or develop an illness, so it’s not impossible you’ll deal with one of these conditions firsthand at some point. You may also have a friend, relative, or casual acquaintance who develops one of these unfortunate conditions or illnesses.
Sensory Impairment
The term “sensory impairment” is quite general and covers many conditions. For instance, if someone can’t see very well or they’re totally blind, you could say they have impaired vision. If they can’t hear, or they hear very little, you might say the same thing.
If you consider what some jobs entail, it becomes obvious why someone with one of these conditions can’t do the same work a person without this ailment could do. A blind person can’t operate a cab safely. They probably can’t work in a factory or operate a cash register easily.
Someone who can’t hear will struggle in some job situations. If they’re creative and determined, they might do okay in some professions. Such individuals may very well collect disability payments instead, though.
Digestive Tract Problems
Digestive tract problems can plague some people. For instance, if an individual has Crohn’s Disease or irritable bowel disease, they might seldom leave the house. Certain medications exist that can help these people, but they probably can’t work in certain fields or do some particular jobs.
Some individuals with these conditions get around them by working from home. If they’re in a controlled environment, they might work for a call center remotely. They may work on a laptop or desktop doing copywriting or bookkeeping work.
Again, their creativity and determination come into play. Depending on the issue’s severity and how successful their treatment options, they may still have successful careers. It’s just as likely they will collect disability payments instead, though.
These conditions sometimes cause additional problems because they may not seem immediately evident when you meet someone. These examples serve as proof that someone may seem able-bodied, but they may have a condition that limits them that you won’t immediately notice through a cursory visual assessment.
Immune System Disorders
Immune system disorders can make someone’s life very difficult. For example, maybe someone you know contracts HIV or AIDS. While medical science can now treat these conditions much better than 30 or even 10 years ago, it makes sense that someone with these ailments could not do many jobs that require endurance and tenacity.
You might also encounter someone with rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, or something else that falls under the general category of immune system disorders. These conditions can make everyday living very tough. Medications and treatments can keep them under control, but someone who’s dealing with one of these problems might very well require disability payments, especially if there’s not an additional breadwinner in the household.
Diabetes
Diabetes remains a problem in many communities. Some individuals have Type 1 diabetes that’s genetic. They may seem relatively healthy, but their appearance can fool you. They may struggle with their symptoms to the point where they can’t take on the responsibilities that come with many jobs.
Type 2 diabetes can occur as well. Usually, someone will develop this condition as they get older. However, some medical professionals notice much younger individuals showing signs of this condition, especially if they’re overweight and leading sedentary lifestyles.
No matter someone’s age when they contract diabetes, though, this condition can make some careers and jobs untenable or even impossible. Again, disability payments might keep such a person afloat. If the condition worsens, though, they can lose body parts to amputation. They might lose their vision or develop kidney disease or neuropathy.
You might see someone with this condition who’s miserable. If they’re a friend or a family member, hopefully, you can commiserate with them and make them feel better. They face a tough daily reality in many instances, though.
Cancer
Cancer remains a significant problem in every country and society around the world. At the moment, no known cure exists. Cancer can come at any time, claiming lives that just started or ones that have progressed to the end of the natural human span.
The chemotherapy option remains popular, and some individuals successfully undergo treatment and get their particular cancer variety into remission. Just as often, though, the disease reappears.
It’s obvious why someone with a cancer diagnosis can’t do many kinds of work. The disease can make them weak, and the treatment can make them listless. The physical limitations cancer brings about can turn a healthy, active person into someone who’s barely making it through their days.
This type of disease can strike any time, and those who contract it never know when it might appear. Like so many of life’s unpredictable aspects, you can only hope you’re not affected and battle the disease when and if it turns up.
Now you know some of the most common medical reasons why people can’t work or why they have limited options. It’s conditions like this that make our disability payment system so crucial.
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