Able to serve the entire disabled community, such as a communal event, or an empowering t-shirt that is not specific to one disability or certain disabilities. Listings that help "All" disabilities will be placed in all other Disability Helped collections, such as "Amputation / Limb Difference" and "Neurological Disorder".

Limb Difference is the partial or complete absence of or malformation of limbs [2], which can result from Amputation, the removal of a limb such as a finger, toe, hand, foot, arm or leg [1]. 

Amputation can be congenital (present from birth), traumatic (due to an accident or injury) or surgical (due to any of multiple causes such as blood vessel disease, cancer, infection, excessive tissue damage, dysfunction, pain, etc.) [1].

Limb difference can be caused by a previous fracture, trauma to a growth plate or a previous infection. Genetic conditions or syndromes can also result in one limb being longer than the other [2].

Disarticulations are amputations of two bones at their joint [1].

Amputations are categorized based on where the amputation occurs on the body [1].

Lower Limb Amputations:

Below Ankle

• Toe Amputation - Removal of the phalanges (toe bones).
• Transphalangeal Amputation / Toe Disarticulation - Removal of the toe at the metatarsophalangeal (forefoot) joint.
• Transmetatarsal Amputation - Removal of the foot through the metatarsal shafts (long foot bones).
• Lisfranc Amputation - Removal of the foot at the tarsometatarsal (midfoot) joint and disarticulation of all five metatarsals (long foot bones).
• Chopart Amputation - Removal the foot at the talonavicular (ball and socket joint in foot) and calcaneocuboid joints (allows smooth movements of heel and foot bones) and disarticulation through the midtarsal joint (articulation between the midfoot and the hindfoot) leaving only the calcaneus (heel) and talus (bone at base of ankle).
• Syme Amputation / Ankle Disarticulation - Removal of the foot at the ankle joint with preservation of the heel pad.
• Boyd’s Amputation - Removal of the ankle with preservation of the heel pad that retains the calcaneus (heel) and fuses it with the distal tibia (lower end of shin) at the ankle mortise (connection of the lower ends of the shin and calf bones and the bone at base of ankle.

Above Ankle

• Below Knee / Transtibial Amputation - Removal of the lower limb below the knee joint.
• Through Knee / Knee Disarticulation - Removal of the lower limb at the knee joint and not through lower limb bones.
• Above Knee / Transfemoral Amputation - Removal of the lower limb above the knee joint.
• Rotationplasty - Removal of the lower limb above the knee to remove tumors near the knee joint with the foot reattached backwards and the ankle joint acting as a new knee. 
• Hip Disarticulation - Removal of the lower limb through the hip joint and not through lower limb bones.
• Hemipelvectomy - Removal of the lower limb through half of the pelvis.

Lower limb amputations are also categorized based on the United States’ Medicare Functional Classification Level (MFCL), also known as the K-Level, which is a 0 to 4 point scale of functional level [3].

• K0 - Does not have the ability or potential to ambulate or transfer safely with or without assistance and a prosthesis does not enhance their quality of life or mobility.
• K1 - Has the ability or potential to use a prosthesis for transfers or ambulation on level surfaces at fixed cadence. Typical of the limited and unlimited household ambulator.
• K2 - Has the ability or potential for ambulation with the ability to traverse low level environmental barriers such as curbs, stairs, or uneven surfaces. Typical of the limited community ambulator.
• K3 - Has the ability or potential for ambulation with variable cadence. Typical of the community ambulator who has the ability to traverse most environmental barriers and may have vocational, therapeutic, or exercise activity that demands prosthetic utilization beyond simple locomotion.
• K4 - Has the ability or potential for prosthetic ambulation that exceeds basic ambulation skills, exhibiting high impact, stress, or energy levels. Typical of the prosthetic demands of the child, active adult, or athlete.

Upper Limb Amputations:

Below Elbow

• Transphalangeal - Removal of the phalanges (finger bones).
• Transmetacarpal - Removal of the fingers below the metacarpal (bones in middle of hand).
• Transcarpal - Removal of the hand below the wrist joint.
• Wrist Disarticulation - Removal of the hand at the wrist joint and not through upper limb bones.
• Transradial Amputation - Removal of the upper limb below the elbow joint

Above Elbow

• Elbow Disarticulation -  Removal of the upper limb at the elbow joint and not through upper limb bones.
• Transhumeral Amputation - Removal of the upper limb above the elbow joint.
• Shoulder Disarticulation - Removal of the upper limb at the shoulder joint and not through upper limb bones.
• Forequarter Amputation - Removal of the upper limb with its shoulder girdle.

[1] “Amputation.” Johns Hopkins Medicine. Link

[2] “Limb Length Inequality.” Johns Hopkins Medicine. Link

[3] “Table 1, Lower Limb Extremity Prosthesis Medicare Functional Classification Levels (K Levels)." U.S. National Library of Medicine. Link

Blindness is not only defined functionally by the prevalence of vision loss, but also sociologically to the extent that a person must devise alternative techniques for daily living [1].

Blindness can be congenital (present from birth), hereditary (inherited from parent’s genes), or traumatic (due to an accident or injury) or caused by a disorder (due to any of multiple causes such as disease, cancer, infection, etc.) [2].

A person has Low Vision when their visual impairments cannot be corrected by glasses, medication or surgery [3].

The Vision and Eye Health Surveillance System (VEHSS) reports prevalence of vision loss and blindness based on visual acuity data for the following subgroups [4]:

• Normal vision: 20/12.5 – >20/32
• Any vision loss: ≤20/32
• Mild visual impairment: 20/32 – >20/80
• Moderate visual impairment: 20/80 – >20/200
• Visual impairment: 20/32 – >20/200
• U.S. defined blindness: ≤20/200
• World Health Organization (WHO) defined blindness: ≤20/400
• Missing: Missing acuity data in one or both eyes

[1] “A Definition of Blindness.” National Federation of the Blind. Link

[2] “Blindness and Vision Impairment.” World Health Organization. Link

[3] “Low Vision.” National Eye Institute. Link

[4] “Vision Loss and Blindness.” U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Link

Deafness is not only defined functionally by the prevalence of hearing loss, but also sociologically by how people identify themselves reflects identification with the deaf community, the degree to which they can hear, or the relative age of onset [1].

People choose to identify with an audiological or cultural perspective such as Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled, Hard of Hearing, and Late-Deafened. There are variations in how a person becomes deaf, level of hearing, age of onset, educational background, communication methods, and cultural identity [1].

Deafness can be congenital (present from birth), hereditary (inherited from parent’s genes), or traumatic (due to an accident or injury) or caused by a disorder (due to any of multiple causes such as disease, cancer, infection, etc.) [2].

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines the four types of Hearing Loss [3]:

• Conductive Hearing Loss: Caused by something that stops sounds from getting through the outer or middle ear, which can often be treated with medicine or surgery
• Sensorineural Hearing Loss: When there is a problem in the way the inner ear or hearing nerve works
• Mixed Hearing Loss: Includes both a conductive and a sensorineural hearing loss
• Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder: when sound enters the ear normally, but because of damage to the inner ear or the hearing nerve, sound isn't organized in a way that the brain can understand

[1] “Community and Culture.” National Association of the Deaf. Link

[2] “Deafness and Hearing Loss.” World Health Organization. Link

[3] “Types of Hearing Loss.” U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Link

Mobility Impairments are disabilities that affect movement ranging from fine motor movement, such as using the hands to grasp and move objects, to gross motor skills, such as walking [1].

Mobility impairments can be congenital (present from birth), hereditary (inherited from parent’s genes), or traumatic (due to any of multiple causes such as blood vessel disease, cancer, infection, excessive tissue damage, dysfunction, pain, etc.) [2].

Mobility impairments vary over a wide range, from temporary (e.g., a broken arm) to permanent (e.g., amputation) [1].

[1] “Mobility Impairments.” California State University, Chico. Link

[2] “Individuals with Disabilities.” Connecticut's Official State Website. Link

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is damage to the bundle of nerves and nerve fibers that extends from the lower part of the brain down through the lower back which sends and receives signals from the brain This damage can cause Paralysis, temporary or permanent changes in feeling, movement, strength, and body functions below the site of injury [1].

SCI can be congenital (present from birth), hereditary (inherited from parent’s genes), traumatic (direct injury to the spinal cord itself or from damage to the tissue and bones (vertebrae) that surround the spinal cord) [1].

SCI are categorized based on level, type, and severity [2]:

The level is denoted by the letter-and-number name of the vertebra at the injury site (such as C3, T2, or L4) [2]:

• 7 cervical vertebrae (C1 -C7) in the neck
• 12 thoracic vertebrae (T1-T12) in the upper back
• 5 lumbar vertebrae (L1 -L5) in the lower back
• 5 sacral vertebrae (S1-S5) which are fused to form the sacrum, and the four vertebrae of the coccyx, or tailbone

The severity is described as complete or incomplete [1]:

• Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury - Able to send some messages to or from the brain. People with incomplete injuries still have some feeling, function, and muscle control below the site of their injury.
• Complete Spinal Cord Injury - No nerve communication below the injury site; muscle control, feeling, or function below the injury is lost.

The types are based on the amount of changes in body function from paralysis [3]:

• Paraplegia - Paralysis affects both legs and sometimes the torso.
• Quadriplegia / Tetraplegia - Paralysis affects all limbs 
• Diplegia -  Paralysis affects the same area on both sides of the body (both arms or both legs). 
• Hemiplegia - Paralysis affects one side of the body (an arm and a leg on the same side).
• Monoplegia - Paralysis affects one limb (arm or leg)

[1] “Spinal Cord Injury.” National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Link

[2] “About Spinal Cord Injury.” National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Link

[3] “Paralysis.” Cleveland Clinic. Link

Neurological Disorders are impairments of functioning relating to any condition that affects the brain and/or nervous system. This may result in physical disabilities (such as Cerebral Palsy), intellectual and developmental disabilities (such as Autism), or other disabilities (such as Epilepsy) [1].

Neurological disorders can be congenital (present from birth), hereditary (inherited from parent’s genes), traumatic (due to any of multiple causes such as direct injury to the brain, malnutrition, etc.), or some have unknown causes [2].

There are hundreds of neurological disorders that exist. They fall into several categories [2]:

• Neurodegenerative Conditions: Alzheimer’s, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s
• Neuromuscular Conditions: Muscular Dystrophy, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
• Brain Conditions: Epilepsy, Stroke, Traumatic Brain Injury
• Spine Conditions: Spina Bifida, Spinal Muscular Atrophy
• Peripheral Nerve Conditions: Peripheral Neuropathy, Carpal Tunnel, Bell’s Palsy
• Developmental Disabilities: Dyslexia, Autism, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
• Intellectual Disabilities: Down Syndrome, Williams Syndrome
• Mental Disorders: Depression, Schizophrenia

Neurological disorders may be grouped into more than one category due to what symptoms they cause [2].

[1] “Neurodisability.” National Health Service. Link

[2] “Neurological Disorders.” Cleveland Clinic. Link

Short Stature is a medical or genetic condition that results in a person's height being well below the average height of their peers [1].

Short stature can be congenital (present from birth), or hereditary (inherited from parent’s genes) [1].

The most frequently diagnosed cause of Short stature are genetic conditions [1]:

• Achondroplasia - Disproportionately short arms and legs
• Spondyloepiphyseal Dysplasia Congenita - Spinal and epiphyseal enlargement (area at the end of long bones)
• Diastrophic Dysplasia - Decreased sulfate content in the body
• Pseudoachondroplasia - Overproduction of cartilage oligomeric matrix protein
• Hypochondroplasia - Slow cell growth
• Osteogenesis Imperfecta - Soft bones that fracture easily

Short stature is divided into two categories [2]:

• Disproportionate - If body size is disproportionate, some parts of the body are small, and others are of average size or above-average size. These disorders inhibit the development of bones.
• Proportionate - A body is proportionately small if all parts of the body are small to the same degree and appear to be proportioned like a body of average stature. These disorders present at birth or appearing in early childhood limit overall growth and development.

Short stature disorders do not include familial short stature — short height that's considered a normal variation with normal bone development [2].

[1] “Frequently Asked Questions.” Little People of America. Link

[2] “Dwarfism.” Mayo Clinic. Link

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