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Understanding disability

Building understanding of disability requires learning from people with disability about their experience of disability and how to set up conditions for success in employment. 

Discover the key strategies

Last updated: 13 Nov 2025

A young man standing against a café, with his hands in his pockets. They are smiling.

"Disability doesn't make you exceptional, but questioning what you think you know about it does." 1

Stella Young
Journalist, comedian and disability rights activist

"Disability is an evolving concept… that results from the interaction between persons with impairments and attitudinal and environmental barriers that hinders their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others." 2

United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Slide 1

Overview

Disability is a natural part of life and can be experienced in different ways. In Australia, around one in five people have a disability.2 Every person is unique, and how disability impacts them will vary depending on a range of factors. Disability can be visible or non-visible, permanent, temporary or intermittent. It may be present from birth or acquired at any age or stage of life. For some, it can have a little or no impact on their ability to work; for others, it may affect their capacity more significantly. How people relate to disability also varies. Not everyone identifies as part of the disability community. 

People with disability, like everyone else, have many aspects to their identity. Some of these may intersect with their disability and increase the risk of stigma or discrimination.

People with disability have wide ranging skills, talents and knowledge to bring to the workplace. They work in all sorts of jobs and hold a range of tertiary and vocational qualifications.

What we wish people knew about living with a disability (video)

ABC Australia

Key strategies for success

Being inclusive and achieving equal employment opportunities for people with disability requires understanding: 

Two middle aged people in an office setting. One person is in an electric wheelchair with a face mask to assist with breathing and they are having a conversation together.
Models of disability
The way that people with disability have been treated and how we think about disability has changed over time. Knowing about the different models of disability…
A vision impaired person with their guide dog. They are in a factory setting, they are smiling and wearing a florescent yellow top.
Types of disability
By understanding the experiences of people with disability, we can better identify barriers to employment and find effective, common solutions to address them.
A vision impaired person in a bright yellow safety vest is crossing a street, a guide dog is assisting.
Building disability awareness and confidence
For society, and employment, to be truly inclusive, people with and without disability need to be able to work and live together effectively.
A young worker leaning on the front desk of a office. They have clear glasses and a smile on their face.
Understanding barriers to employment
Understand what creates barriers to employment for people with disability – at both an individual and broader societal level – so that strategies can be put in…
A worker outside with polarised glasses cutting some leaves off a branch. The worker is in a bright yellow top.
Setting up conditions for success
Develop an understanding of the strengths of the person and the barriers to work, and take action to create the right conditions for the person and the…
Online training
Introduction to disability awareness
This Disability Awareness eLearning training seeks to challenge ingrained cultural and attitudinal barriers that perpetuate discrimination and provides…
  • Employer capability

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