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handicap
(han´dĭ-kap)
a term now considered offensive, used to refer to any physical or mental impairment or characteristic that prevents or restricts a person from participating independently in activities of daily living.
the term is defined by the World Health Organization as a disadvantage that interferes with performance of life roles, which
may be social, cultural, economic, or environmental in nature. For example, social stigma or environmental barriers may interfere
with the employment of a person using a wheelchair even when the person is able to function independently (lacking a true
disability).
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