We ALL are!!!  I  don't  like the term disabled, because everybody is able to do something.  I prefer the term differently abled as this is a more correct statement.  Everybody in the world has unique abilities that vary from each other.  Even though I am in a wheelchair and am unable to walk, I am able to write and think and develop a website, whereas a runner may not be able to draw, and an artist may not be able to speak well in public.

Below, are a list of disorders and disabilities that may make people face more challenges than others, but that doesn't make them disabled, it just makes them differently abled.

Ataxia Telangiectasia:  a rare, neurodegenerative, inherited disease causing severe disability. Ataxia refers to poor coordination and telangiectasia to small dilated blood vessels. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ataxia_telangiectasia

Ataxia...The onset of this ataxia marks the beginning of progressive degeneration of a part of the brain, known as the cerebellum, that gradually leads to a general lack of muscle control, and eventually confines the patient to a wheelchair. Because of the worsening ataxia, children with A-T lose their ability to write, and speech also becomes slowed and slurred. Even reading eventually becomes impossible as eye movements become difficult to control.

Telangiectasia...Soon after the onset of the ataxia, the A-T patient usually shows another clinical hallmark of A-T: "telangiectasia," or tiny red "spider" veins which appear in the corners of the eyes or on the surface of the ears and cheeks exposed to sunlight. Although these telangiectasia are seemingly harmless, their unique appearance together with ataxia is what led to naming this disease "ataxia-telangiectasia."

http://www.brashat.org.au/about_at.php

Autism:   a developmental disorder that appears in the first 3 years of life, and affects the brain's normal development of social and communication skills.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002494/

The hallmark feature of ASD is impaired social interaction.  A baby with ASD may be unresponsive to people or focus intently on one item to the exclusion of others for long periods of time.  A child with ASD may appear to develop normally and then withdraw and become indifferent to social engagement.

Children with an ASD may fail to respond to their names and often avoid eye contact with other people.  They have difficulty interpreting what others are thinking or feeling because they can’t understand social cues, such as tone of voice or facial expressions, and don’t watch other people’s faces for clues about appropriate behavior.  They lack empathy.

Signs and Symptoms: 

repetitive movements such as rocking and twirling

self-abusive behavior such as biting or head-banging

start speaking later than other children

don’t know how to play interactively with other children

http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/autism/detail_autism.htm

Down Syndrome:  a genetic condition in which a person has 47 chromosomes instead of the usual 46.  Symptoms vary from person to person and can range from mild to severe. However, children with Down syndrome have a widely recognized appearance.

Signs and Symptoms:

head may be smaller than normal and abnormally shaped

inner corner of the eyes may be rounded instead of pointed

decreased muscle tone at birth

excess skin at the nape of the neck 

flattened nose

separated joints between the bones of the skull (sutures)

single crease in the palm of the hand

small ears

small mouth

upward slanting eyes

wide, short hands with short fingers

white spots on the colored part of the eye (Brushfield spots)

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001992/

Cancer:  is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the body. Cancerous cells are also called malignant cells.   Cancer appears to occur when the growth of cells in the body is out of control and cells divide too quickly. It can also occur when cells forget how to die.

The following symptoms can occur with most cancers:

chills

fatigue

fever

loss of appetite

malaise

night sweats

weight loss

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002267/

Spina Bifida:  is a neural tube birth defect (NTD) which occurs within the first four weeks of pregnancy. The spinal column fails to develop properly resulting in varying degrees of permanent damage to the spinal cord and nervous system.

http://www.sbhao.on.ca/spina-bifida

Signs and Symptoms:

• Loss of bladder or bowel control

• Partial or complete lack of sensation

• Partial or complete paralysis of the legs

• Weakness of the hips, legs, or feet of a newborn

• abnormal feet or legs, such as clubfoot
  

• Build up of fluid inside the skull (hydrocephalus)

• Hair at the back part of the pelvis called the sacral area

• Dimpling of the sacral area

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002525/

Depression:  is a state of low mood and aversion to activity that can affect a person's thoughts, behavior, feelings and physical well-being.

Signs and Symptoms:

sadness

anxiety

empty

hopeless

helpless

worthless

guilty

irritable

restless

lose interest in activities that once were pleasurable

loss of appetite or overeating

problems concentrating

remembering details or making decisions

may contemplate or attempt suicide

Insomnia

excessive sleeping

fatigue

loss of energy

aches

pains

digestive problems that are resistant to treatment

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depression_(mood)

Moya Moya