Health conditions, impairments and disabilities

The terms health conditions, impairments, and disabilities are related but distinct in meaning.

Health Condition

A health condition refers to a disease, illness, injury or disorder that affects a person’s physical or mental health. Examples include diabetes, asthma or a broken leg.

A health condition may or may not lead to an impairment or disability.

Impairment

An impairment is any loss or abnormality of a physical or mental ability. Examples include vision loss, limb amputation, paralysis, memory loss or chronic pain. Impairments can be temporary (e.g., a broken arm) or permanent (e.g., hearing loss).

Not every impairment results in a disability (e.g., mild nearsightedness corrected with glasses).

Disability

Under the Equality Act 2010 (opens in a new window), you’re disabled if you have a physical or mental impairment that has a ‘substantial’ and ‘long-term’ negative effect on your ability to do normal daily activities.

Examples include someone with paraplegia who cannot walk, someone with severe depression who struggles with daily tasks or a person with blindness facing barriers in a sight-dependent world.

People with specific health conditions or impairments are protected by Disability Act 2010. You can find out more on the ACAS website (opens in a new window).

Page last reviewed: 26th March 2025