Classifying people with disabilities, in the same way as diseases, does not make sense, but using the classification to obtain systematic information about a person’s functioning can provide professionals with relevant information and can guide the selection of interventions. Researchers and planners have an obvious need for operationalization of those conditions we call disability, and for different purposes. The disability movement, however, address the criticism that a classification in this matter may stimulate increased stigmatization, and there is a concern that the classification may be abused in priority setting. The various interests in the same field: researchers, who want scientifically based knowledge, and people with disabilities, who do not want to be “classified”, may have negatively impacted on some of the necessary conceptual development and debate.
The distinction between “disability” and “functioning” is not
easily made, since there is no fixed limit or a “gold standard” to determine whether a person is disabled. Instead, the concept of disability or malfunctioning, should be seen as relativistic, bound to the current culture and the social context, where people live their lives, and in this context, as it relates to health.