Physical, sensory, developmental, cognitive, mental or emotional impairments, illnesses or injuries that prevent or interfere with an individual's ability to perform intellectual or physical tasks that are normally within the range of human capability, or which significantly limit one's mobility or level of activity.

Language, articulation, voice and/or fluency disorders which are outside the range of acceptable variation in a given environment and which are inconsistent with the person's chronological and/or developmental age.

A severe, chronic disability that is attributable to a cognitive, neurological or physical impairment or a combination of cognitive, neurological and physical impairments; that is manifested during the developmental period (prior to age 22); that is likely to continue indefinitely; and that results in substantial functional limitations in three or more areas of major life activity including self-care, receptive and expressive language, learning, mobility, self-direction, capacity for independent living, and economic self-sufficiency.

Older adults who have a condition that affects their independence and places them at future risk of needing a higher level of care than is currently required.

Physical, mental or developmental disabilities that pose substantial barriers to an individual's ability to maintain independent living and which place the individual at risk of institutionalization without varying degrees of community support or which may leave no other choice than institutionalization.

Acute or chronic illnesses, injuries or other pathological conditions which affect the individual's physical well-being.

A disruption in the normal hearing process that may occur in the outer, middle, or inner ear, which prevents sound waves from being converted to electrical signals and nerve impulses from being transmitted to the brain to be interpreted. Included are conductive hearing loss that results from abnormalities of the external ear and/or the ossicles of the middle ear; sensorineural hearing loss that results from malfunction of inner ear structures (i.e., cochlea); and central auditory dysfunction that results from damage or dysfunction at the level of the eighth cranial nerve, auditory brain stem, or cerebral cortex. Hearing loss may be present at birth (congenital) or become evident later in life (acquired); and may or may not preclude the normal development of language. The severity of hearing loss is measured in decibles (dB). The threshold or 0 dB mark for each frequency refers to the level at which typical young adults perceive a tone burst 50% of the time. Hearing is considered normal if an individual's thresholds are within 15 dB of normal thresholds. Severity of hearing loss is graded as mild (26-40 dB), moderate (41-55 dB), moderately severe (56-70 dB), severe (71-90 dB) and profound (90 dB).

Individuals who have chronic illnesses or disabilities or are frail elderly, who are unable to take care of their own daily living needs independently and who require one or a a combination of ongoing in-home or out-of-home care supportive arrangements which may include care in their own homes by relatives or other caregivers; care in their own homes combined with participation in an adult day care or similar program; residence in an assisted living facility, adult foster home, continuing care retirement community, life care community, senior residential care home or other supervised living facility; case management; advocacy to assure their safety and rights; and/or other forms of basic assistance.

A neurological disorder that affects one or more of the basic psychological processes involved in understanding or in using spoken or written language. The disability may manifest itself in an imperfect ability to listen, think, speak, read, write, spell or to do mathematical calculations. Learning disabilities should not be confused with learning problems which are primarily the result of visual, hearing, or motor handicaps; of intellectual disabilities; of emotional disturbance; or of environmental, cultural or economic disadvantages.

An alteration in thinking, mood or behavior or some combination of those that either creates distress or interferes with people's relationships or their ability function.

Individuals who are ill and who are receiving medical care. Also included are individuals who have no demonstrable illness but are being investigated for signs of pathology such as altered blood chemical values or physical changes such as asymptomatic cardiovascular abnormalities.

Any of a variety of conditions that may be due to muscular, skeletal or neuromuscular disorders, paralysis or absence of one or more limbs, which impose physical limitations on the individual.

Disorders related to excessive alcohol use, other drug use or use of other substances including caffeine and tobacco that is characterized by an inability to control or limit the amount taken or the frequency; intense cravings; continuing use despite problems with work, school or family/social obligations or interpersonal problems; risky use, e.g., driving a car, operating machinery while under the influence or continuing to smoke following an emphysema diagnosis; or evidence of pharmacological indicators (tolerance and withdrawal symptoms), the adjustment the body makes as it attempts to adapt to the continued and frequent use of a substance.

Eye, optic nerve or brain malfunctions which prevent affected individuals from seeing normally. Eye disorders that can lead to visual impairments include retinal degeneration, albinism, cataracts, glaucoma, muscular problems that result in visual disturbances, corneal disorders, diabetic retinopathy, congenital disorders and infection.