Physical Impairments

Note: The guidelines require an individual to be markedly restricted “all or substantially all of the time” or it takes “an inordinate amount of time” to carry out one or more of the following basic activities of daily living.

Speaking

• You rely on other means of communication, such as sign language or a symbol board.
• You need to repeat words and sentences several times in order to be understood.

Hearing

• You rely completely on lip reading or sign language to understand a spoken language despite use of hearing aids.
• You rely on others raising their voice and repeating words and sentences for you to understand despite the use of hearing aids.

Walking

• You always rely on a wheelchair or scooter outside the home, even for short distances.
• You take an inordinate amount of time to walk 100 metres, about a city block, since you need to stop because of pain or shortness of breath.
• You experience severe episodes of fatigue, and problems with coordination and balance. Several days at a time, you cannot walk more than a few steps. Between episodes, you continue to have these symptoms, but to a lesser degree.

Eliminating

• You need ostomy products or catheters or similar appliances to manage your bowel and bladder functions.
• You are incontinent and require incontinence pads.

Feeding

• You require tube feedings.
• You take an inordinate amount of time to prepare meals or feed yourself, on a daily basis due to significant pain or decreased strength and dexterity in your upper limbs or hands.

Dressing

• You cannot dress yourself without the help of another person.
• You take an inordinate amount of time to dress yourself because of pain, stiffness or decreased dexterity in your arms and legs.