Disability Terms and Definitions

Social Security and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) Monthly cash benefit administered by the federal Social Security Administration (SSA) to retired or disabled workers and their qualified dependents. Beneficiaries must be 62 years of age or older, or disabled, and have enough work "credits" to be qualified. Reasonable Accommodation Any change in the job application process, work environment or work process, or modification to the benefits or privileges of employment, that results in equal employment opportunity for an individual with a disability. AEA acquired eleptiform aphasia (Landau-Kleffner syndrome) Section 1619(b) Status The special SSI recipient status for Medicaid purposes provided to working disabled or blind individuals when their earnings make them ineligible for regular or special cash payments. Indexing Indexing is designed to provide some protection against inflation. After the first year of disability, a disabled employee's pre-disability earnings are usually increased (or indexed) by a certain percentage on an annual basis. Augmentative or alternative communication (AAC) device An electronic device that talks for a person who cannot speak. The device usually has a recorded or electronic voice and can say words or sentences the user chooses. Mental disorder In DSM-III, a mental disorder is conceptualized as a clinically significant behavioral or psychologic syndrome or pattern that occurs in an individual and that typically is associated with either a painful symptom (distress) or impairment in one or more important areas of functioning (disability). Representative Payee Individual appointed by the Social Security Administration (SSA) to manage the cash benefits of a recipient of SSI or Social Security benefits, or both. Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) The level of work activity used to establish disability. A finding of disability requires that a person be unable to engage in SGA. Vocational Rehabilitation Services Those services identified in Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, which are provided in an individualized plan for employment necessary to assist an individual with a disability in preparing for, securing, retaining, or regaining an employment outcome that is consistent with the strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, capabilities, interests, and informed choice of the individual.

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	Did You Know?
	Ambulatory Care is all types of health services which are provided on an outpatient basis All types of health services which are provided on an outpatient basis, in contrast to services provided in the home or to persons who are inpatients. While many inpatients may be ambulatory, the term ambulatory care usually implies that the patient must travel to a location to receive services which do not require an overnight stay.