An ‘acquired’ disability is a disability that has developed during the person’s lifetime i.e. as a result of an accident or illness rather than a disability the person was born with. Acquired disabilities can be visible and invisible.
There is no definitive list of acquired disabilities but examples include:
Accident related injuries
- Head trauma
- Spinal injuries
- Loss of vision
- Loss of hearing
- Injury / loss of limbs
Illness and health related
- Post stroke disability
- Post-traumatic stress
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Arthritis
- Motor Neurone Disease
- Mental Illness
- Stress
According to the 2016 census, 70% of people with a disability aged 20-64 acquired their disability after the age of 16. Therefore many people are employed prior to acquiring a disability and it is important that they are helped to stay in employment.