A temporary or permanent condition that interferes with a person’s ability to function independently – walk, talk, see, hear, learn. It may refer to a physical, mental or sensory condition. Terms no longer considered acceptable when talking about people with disabilities include: disabled, handicapped, crippled or deformed. Acceptable descriptions include: a person with a disability, a child with special needs, a boy who is visually impaired, a girl who has a hearing loss, a child who uses a wheelchair.