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The Work Disability Diagram

The Work Disability Diagram is a Diagram that shows how impairment, functional limitations, worker role demands, and environment interact to define work disability. The diagram consists of a set of two pairs of circles, each consisting of a broad category that completely contains a narrower subcategory. The circles are described moving from left to right with the broader category for each set described first.

First Pair:

• Impairment is the broader category. It comprises the following factors:
  • Disease
  • Injury
  • Mental Illness
  • Developmental
• Functional Limitations is the narrower subcategory of Impairment and comprises the following factors:
  • Physical
  • Psychological
  • Cognitive
  • Neurobehavioral

Second Pair:

• Environment is the broader category. It comprises the following factors:
  • Physical
  • Cultural
  • Legal, Social and Psychological Affordances
  • Challenges and Taboos
• Worker Role Demands is the narrower subcategory of Environment and comprises the following factors:
  • Physical
  • Psychological, Cognitive
  • Neurobehavioral

Impairment and Environment overlap to the extent that there is some overlap of Worker Role Demands and Functional Limitations. The area of overlap is labeled "Work Disability."

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