Disability amount – Glossary

The following is a list of definitions related to the disability amount.

Blind – For the disability amount, you are blind if, all or substantially all the time:

• your visual acuity with both eyes is 20/200 (6/60) or less with the Snellen Chart (or an equivalent); or

• the greatest diameter of the field of vision in both eyes is 20 degrees or less.

Dressing – For the disability amount, you are markedly restricted in dressing if, all or substantially all the time:

• you are unable to dress yourself, even with appropriate therapy, medication, or devices; or

• you require an inordinate amount of time to dress yourself, even with appropriate therapy, medication, or devices.

Elimination (bowel or bladder functions) – For the disability amount, you are markedly restricted in elimination if, all or substantially all the time:

• you are unable to personally manage bowel or bladder functions, even with appropriate therapy, medication, or devices; or

• you require an inordinate amount of time to personally manage bowel or bladder functions, even with appropriate therapy, medication, or devices.

Feeding – For the disability amount, you are markedly restricted in feeding if, all or substantially all the time:

• you are unable to feed yourself, even with appropriate therapy, medication, or devices; or

• you require an inordinate amount of time to feed yourself, even with appropriate therapy, medication, or devices.

Hearing – For the disability amount, you are markedly restricted in hearing if, all or substantially all the time:

• you are unable to hear so as to understand another person familiar with you, in a quiet setting, even with appropriate devices; or

• you require an inordinate amount of time to hear so as to understand another person familiar with you, in a quiet setting, even with appropriate devices.

Inordinate amount of time – Examples of how you might take an "inordinate amount of time" to perform a basic activity of daily living:

• You can walk 100 metres (or approximately one city block), but only by taking a significant amount of time, stopping because of shortness of breath or because of pain, all or substantially all the time.

• When speaking, you must repeat words and sentences several times, and it takes a significant amount of time for you to make yourself understood.

Life-sustaining therapy – Life-sustaining therapy is therapy you need to support a vital function. You need to dedicate time specifically for this therapy at least three times per week, for an average of at least 14 hours per week. Eligibility for the disability amount under life-sustaining therapy applies only to 2000 and later years.

Activities such as following a dietary restriction or regime (including carbohydrate calculation), exercising, traveling to receive the therapy, attending medical appointments (other than appointments where the therapy is received), shopping for medication, or recuperating after therapy are not included in the time counted towards therapy. Also, if you receive therapy by a portable device, such as an insulin pump, or an implanted device, such as a pacemaker, the time the device takes to deliver the therapy does not count towards the 14-hour requirement. However, the time you spend setting up a portable device does count.

Examples of life-sustaining therapy include chest physiotherapy to help in breathing, kidney dialysis to filter your blood, and for 2005 and later years, insulin therapy to treat Type 1 diabetes in a child who cannot independently adjust the insulin dosage.

Markedly restricted – You are markedly restricted if, all or substantially all the time, even with therapy (other than life-sustaining therapy) and the use of appropriate devices and medication, either:

• you are unable to perform a basic activity of daily living; or

• it takes you an inordinate amount of time to perform a basic activity of daily living.

Mental functions necessary for everyday life – For the disability amount, you are markedly restricted in the mental functions necessary for everyday life if, all or substantially all the time:

• you are unable to perform the mental functions necessary for everyday life, by yourself, even with appropriate therapy, medication, or devices; or

• you require an inordinate amount of time to perform the mental functions necessary for everyday life, by yourself, even with appropriate therapy, medication, or devices.

Prolonged – An impairment is prolonged if it has lasted, or is expected to last, for a continuous period of at least 12 months.

Qualified practitioner – The table below lists the qualified practitioners and which type of impairment each can certify.

Significantly restricted – Significantly restricted means that although you do not quite meet the criteria for markedly restricted (scroll up for definition), your ability to perform a basic activity of daily living is still substantially restricted.

Speaking – For the disability amount, you are markedly restricted in speaking if, all or substantially all the time:

• you are unable to speak so as to understand another person familiar with you, in a quiet setting, even with appropriate therapy, medication, or devices; or

• you require an inordinate amount of time to speak so as to understand another person familiar with you, in a quiet setting, even with appropriate therapy, medication, or devices.

Walking – For the disability amount, you are markedly restricted in walking if, all or substantially all the time:

• you are unable to walk, even with appropriate therapy, medication, or devices; or

• you require an inordinate amount of time to walk, even with appropriate therapy, medication, or devices.