Impairment, disability and handicap are related but distinct concepts used to understand different dimensions of human functioning and limitations, especially in the context of health, rehabilitation and social participation. Impairment refers to any loss or abnormality of psychological, physiological or anatomical structure or function. It is a condition at the level of the body or organ, such as loss of vision, hearing impairment, paralysis of a limb, intellectual impairment or speech disorder. Impairment is primarily a medical concept and focuses on what is affected within the individual’s body systems, irrespective of social or environmental factors. Disability arises when an impairment results in a restriction or lack of ability to perform an activity in a manner or within a range considered normal for a human being. It is concerned with functional limitations at the level of the individual, such as difficulty in walking, communicating, learning, seeing or hearing. Disability reflects the interaction between the impairment and the demands of daily life. For example, a person with a visual impairment may experience disability in reading printed text without assistive devices. Thus, disability goes beyond the medical condition and includes the individual’s capacity to carry out activities essential for independent living. Handicap refers to the disadvantage experienced by an individual as a result of impairment or disability that limits or