Disability in the Light of the Human-Oriented Capability Approach

The article presents the analysis of the phenomenon of disability from the perspective of human-based capabilities approach. Both health and disability, are concepts that are difficult to be defined precisely. Throughout history, the approach to what health and what disease and disability are have changed. The current approach to health emphasizes the fact that it is something more than just the absence of the disease. It is a kind of well-being experienced at the physical, mental and social level. Th is approach was based on the concept correlates of human capabilities, in which one of the most taken matters is the welfare of man. Health is one of the most valuable opportunities, which has a direct impact on the implementation of other valuable ways of being or acting. On the other hand, disability is manifestations of human diversity and complex interaction with the environment. Its underlying damage (impairment) that may – but need not – turn into a disability. Whether this happens depends on the one hand, the resources that a person has, or that can be used, and on the other – from the conversion factors that may facilitate or restrict access to the capabilities, and through it – the functioning, which considers valuable. Hence, disability may be treated as a form of multidimensional deprivation