Viewing Disability Binary vs. Continuum - Coursework Example

The author of the paper will begin with the statement that defining the parameters associated with a disability has always been problematic, as the majority would rather view it in a binary sense as opposed to seeing it as a continuum. It is ironical that a survey conducted by the United Nations in 1990 showed a lesser disability prevalence in countries that were underdeveloped than in developed countries (Schelly, 2008). This is due to the contextual and social structure of disability in more developed countries where a bigger number of industrial, road accidents, and more developed health services constitute a higher survival rate but numerous disabilities.

In this regard, viewing disability in a binary sense would be unfair as persons who have suffered disabilities because of one reason or the other. Therefore, it should be seen as a continuum and hence set as a bio-psychosocial representation incorporating both social and medical forms of disability. According to the research findings, it can, therefore, be said that a binary view of disability would further hinder an interactive and accommodative situation of the complexities of his or her impairment or disability and the environment.