E-learning and Distance Learning for students with disabilities

1. Definition of “handicap” Handicap and disability are used as synonym but they aren't. In 1980 the World Health Organization WHO/OMS in the “International Classification of Impairments, Disabilities and Handicaps – ICIDH” gave the following definitions: − Impairment: any loss or deviation of physiological, neurological or anatomical structure or function of an organ or body part (organ and body dimension), a physiological disorder or injury; − Disability: A disability reflects any limitation or lack of ability that a person experiences in performing an activity in the manner or within the range considered normal for a person, in other words, a limitation in learning, speaking, walking or some other activity (individual dimension); − Handicap: loss or limitation of opportunities to take part in the life of the community on an equal level with others; encounter a person with disability and social, physical environment. Is an inability to accomplish something one might want to do. The term emphasize the focus on shortcomings in the environment and in many tasks and activities, ex. in education, occupation, information or communication (social dimension). 2