There are many different types of disabilities, with two of the main categories being physical disabilities and mental disabilities. Even within these categories, though, it’s important to remember that no two conditions are the same. Everyone has their own challenges to face and their own treatment and recovery options.
For example, some disabilities are progressive. The level of impact they have on your life changes. You may have ups and downs. In a general sense, though, these disabilities tend to grow worse over time. There may be nothing that doctors can do to prevent that. Examples include:
- Chronic Arthritis
- Muscular Dystrophy
- Multiple Sclerosis
These conditions could stay stable for a time before declining, but the big picture usually shows a notable degree of change over time. That sets them apart from other static disabilities, such as the loss of function in the legs after a spinal cord injury. That type of issue will typically not get any worse — or any better — over time, so it’s a matter of adjusting to it. With progressive ailments, adjustment can be harder because things are not the same year to year or even month to month.
Many diseases are also progressive, such as Parkinson’s. Treatment may help to slow down the degeneration of the disease, but they still tend to get worse and there is, for many of them, no known cure.
Regardless of the type of disability one is facing, it’s important to look into all of the legal options that exist and the steps needed to make use of them.