Is Chronic Illness a Disability?

Yesterday was International Day for People with Disability, and it got me thinking about a topic that's on the minds of many: "Is Chronic Illness a Disability?". There are clear definitions for both, but there are some grey areas, which we are going to explore in this week’s blog.

Chronic conditions are the leading cause of illness, disability, and death in Australia. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, almost half of us Aussies (1 in 2) have one or more chronic illnesses. Around 1 in 6 Aussies have a disability, many of whom also grapple with chronic illnesses.

You’d be forgiven for assuming that next time you’re at a party you could look around and comfortably think that half the people there had a chronic illness, and a few had disability. But that isn’t the case. There are community groups and demographics where the numbers with chronic conditions and disability are much higher or lower.

Naturally, if you’re partying at an old folks home there are probably more than 1 in 2 people with a chronic condition. But then there are factors like where people live, heritage, how much they earn, and genetics that play a role in who gets chronic illness or disability and who doesn’t. Just keep that in mind when assessing the stats.

What’s in a name?

According to the United Nations, persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments, which in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. Whereas the World Health Organisation says that chronic diseases tends to be of long duration and are the result of a combination of genetic, physiological, environmental and behavioural factors.

They sound pretty similar, right?

Hold tight, because it doesn’t stop there, the definition of disability changes again depending on the sector. So, if you’re working in Australia the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) has its own definition, and that is different to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), and that is different again from the government’s Disability Support Pension (DSP).

It’s confusing, and for many in the Adulting Well community, the question arises: Does living with a chronic illness equate to having a disability?

The short answer is, its complicated. There is no one-size-fits-all answer. The intersection of chronic illness and disability lies in how you interact with the world. If you’ve faced long-term barriers to participating equally because of your chronic illness, then maybe you do. But you’ve got to do your own homework and make the judgment call.

My disability experience

I have complex congenital heart disease and I meet the DDA criteria, but not the NDIS or DSP criteria. To be honest, it never occurred to me that being born with a heart condition, having 5 open-heart surgeries, umpteen catheters, and no permanent cure meant I had a lifelong chronic illness and disability. Reflecting back, even when I had a Disability Parking Permit, I still didn’t think I had a disability.

As I was navigating the workforce, I had a natural affinity to the disability networks. But it wasn’t until a few years ago, I finally bit the bullet and asked my specialist if I met the criteria for the Disability recruitment stream. He came back with one word “Absolutely” – I was flawed.

I think I was so taken aback by this response because I was raised to believe that I was like everyone else. I had the same chance to go to uni, the same chance to travel the world, the same chance to find love, and the same chance to climb the corporate ladder. Sure, I had to make adaptations to make every single one of those a reality, but it was just how life was.

Maybe I was misguided for decades or just in denial. But CHD is hard to define. Sometimes my health is debilitating, and I don’t even have the energy to walk from the carpark into work and brain fog will leave me unable to communicate clearly. But at other times I’ve been fit enough to walk the 14km City to Surf in Sydney. It swings wildly depending on so many factors.

What does it mean for you?

Recognising chronic illness as a potential disability doesn't diminish the strengths, resilience, and capabilities of our community. Instead, it opens avenues for understanding, empathy, and practical support tailored to unique challenges, be it related to congenital heart disease, diabetes, cancer, or any other chronic condition.

As we celebrate the International Day for People with Disability, take a bit of time to figure out where you sit on the disability continuum. Whatever the outcome, we’re here to help you navigate life with confidence, resilience, and an Adulting Well mindset.

P.S.

• Share this with someone who is navigating the disability continuum.
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