Psychiatric disability, or mental illness, has long been associated with insanity. It very often (and wrongly) prompts an irrational fear in us. Like all other disabilities, it has many forms and a person can lead an active life with appropriate support.

1. Psychiatric disability does not affect me

Unfortunately, no family is safe from mental health issues, whether depression, anxiety, addiction, schizophrenia, anorexia or other. The WHO estimates that these disorders affect one in four people and that mental illness now represents the most common disability in the world.

2. Intellectual disability and psychiatric disability are the same thing

Even though the results of these two types of disabilities sometimes resemble each other, it is important to distinguish between them.
Intellectual disability is the result of a cognitive impairment that affects a person’s ability to learn, think and conceptualize. Psychiatric disability is the result of disabling psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, major depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders and personality disorders. It is also often called “mental illness” but this can increase confusion between the two disabilities. In any case, psychiatric disability does not affect a person’s intellect. It simply makes it more difficult for them to use their intellectual abilities in certain circumstances or in a particular emotional state.

8 Clichés About Intellectual Disability

3. People who live with a psychiatric disability are unable to work

One of the main difficulties facing people affected by a psychiatric disability is keeping their job. The unemployment rate among people recognized as disabled workers is twice that of the general population. Nevertheless, with personalized support (rearrangement of work schedule and environment), they are more than capable of working and contributing their skills. A job can even act as an effective way of preventing their disorder from worsening.

4. A mental illness is for life, it cannot be cured

Studies show that the majority of people with mental health problems improve or even recover completely. They can then participate fully once again in family life, society and work, even if some symptoms linger on.

5. The only way to treat a person with a psychiatric disability is to commit them or medicate them

The vast majority of psychiatric patients are treated as outpatients and are never hospitalized. Psychotherapy, physiotherapy, social rehabilitation courses and support groups are just some of today’s alternatives to medication and hospitalization.

6. Schizophrenics are violent and dangerous. They often kill people

The statistics speak for themselves: less than 1% of crimes are committed by people suffering a serious mental illness. There is no connection between a psychiatric disorder and the committing of a crime.

7. There are no effective measures for promoting accessibility among people who have a psychiatric disability

Since anxiety is one of the most common symptoms of a psychiatric disability, anything that helps create a reassuring atmosphere is welcome. We can also add:

⊗ Hiring patient, respectful staff who are trained in receiving people with disabilities;

⊗ Posting simplified, illustrated signs with easy-to-understand words, colors, symbols and icons;

⊗ Using visually different carpets or floor coverings, or tactile strips to point out the main pathways;

⊗ Comforting background sound with noise-dampening coverings;

⊗ Indoor navigation apps such as Evelity: it can suit every user’s profile and provides step-by-step instructions to serenely guide people within complex venues.

Updated on January 19th, 2022/Published on May 10th, 2019

There is poor awareness about intellectual disability (previously called mental retardation), even though around 200 million people in the world have intellectual disabilities. Find out more about this disability, its causes, the daily life of those living with it and how accessibility can be improved.

1. Intellectual disability and psychiatric disability are the same thing.

False. Even though the results of these two types of disabilities sometimes resemble each other, it is important to distinguish between them.

Intellectual disability is the result of a cognitive impairment that affects a person’s ability to learn, think and conceptualize. Psychiatric disability is the result of disabling psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, major depression, bi-polar disorder, anxiety disorders and personality disorders. It is also often called “mental illness” but this can increase confusion between the two disabilities. In any case, psychiatric disability does not affect a person’s intellect. It simply makes it more difficult for them to use their intellectual abilities in certain circumstances or in a particular emotional state.

7 Clichés About Psychiatric Disability

2. Intellectual disability always occurs at birth.

This is almost true.

The majority of intellectual disabilities originate before, during or a little after birth. In about 8% of cases, this type of disability appears later on following an accident, illness or trauma.

We can talk about invisible disability. It only becomes visible when people with intellectual disabilities face a difficult situation. 

3. Down syndrome is the primary cause of intellectual disability.

In truth, the cause of 30% of intellectual disability cases is unknown. Among the known causes, the most common are genetic conditions, brain malformations, metabolism disorders, problems during pregnancy or during birth, and infectious diseases.

4. People with an intellectual disability are unaware that they’re different.

Even if it may reassure us to believe that, it’s just not true. They go through the same suffering as anyone else when teased, insulted or rejected. Perhaps even more so because they are often highly sensitive.

5. They have to live in an institution.

Everyone living with an intellectual disability is different. They have their own abilities and difficulties. While some need constant care, even for the simplest everyday act, others are perfectly capable of living on their own in independent housing.

6. They must always have someone assisting them.

Once again, this is a question of their level of independence. Some with intellectual disability are perfectly capable of understanding and expressing themselves. It may be that they require more time and concentration. This is why you will help them a lot by showing that you are listening, patient and not preoccupied with something else. To help them orient themselves, illustrated signs with colors, symbols and icons can be very useful for them.

7. They cannot work.

The truth is that they are rarely given the opportunity. The unemployment rate among people recognized as disabled workers is twice that of the general population. However, there is accessibility to numerous jobs especially in sheltered workshops, also known as work centers.

8. There are no effective measures to increase accessibility for those living with intellectual disability.

The forms of intellectual disability are so varied that it is difficult to state the specific needs of people living with this type of disability. Below is a list of some useful measures that can facilitate their integration.

⊗ Posting simplified, illustrated signs with easy-to-understand words, colors, symbols and icons;

⊗ Providing information that has been written in simple language and provided in several formats (visual, audio, etc.);

⊗ Using visually different carpets or floor coverings, or tactile strips to point out the main pathways;

⊗ Indoor navigation apps such as Evelity: it provides step-by-step instructions and suits every user’s profile. Users with intellectual disabilities have easy-to-use and easy-to-understand interfaces.

Finally, the training of all staff members, who deal with the public, in welcoming a person with a disability is one specific way to really help in their integration.

9 Tips to Welcome a Person with an Intellectual Disability

Want to know more about accessibility for people with an intellectual disability? Check out this article:

What You Need to Do to Ensure Accessibility for Customers with Intellectual Disabilities at Your Venue

Updated on January 19th, 2022/Published on May 10th, 2019