Glossary

The degree to which an environment, service or product can be reached, understood or approached by as many people as possible, in particular people with disabilities. This includes access to buildings, transportation and formats of communication.[2]

Anxiety  

Fear, nervousness and worry that is more severe and longer lasting than typical everyday worries and interferes with the person’s normal work and relationships.

Champions 

People who work on a voluntary basis as advocates for persons affected and their families; sometimes called ‘patient advocates’, ‘(positive) change agents’, ‘(positive) role models’ or ‘community champions’.

Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) 

A short-term, goal-oriented psychotherapy treatment that takes a hands-on, practical approach to problem-solving. Its goal is to change patterns of thinking or behaviour that are behind people’s difficulties, and so change the way they feel.[3]

Counselling  

A two-way process in which a counsellor or psychologist helps people to expand their view of life, enlarging their range of coping resources and enabling them to make choices to bring about change in themselves, their situation and their environment without harmful consequences to the self or to others.[4] 

Depression 

An unusually sad mood that does not go away. Symptoms include tiredness, having troubles concentrating, disturbed sleep and appetite, isolation, feeling guilty and feeling that life is not worth living. 

Disability  

A social process that results from the interaction between persons with impairments and the attitudinal and environmental barriers that prevent their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others.[5]

Discrimination 

Any form of action, inaction, document or behaviour resulting in a differential treatment of an individual or a specified group, minority or community that is negative in its consequence. 

Empowerment 

A process by which people or groups who are powerless become aware of the power dynamics at work in their life context and take steps to develop the skills and capacity for gaining control over their lives, exercise their control without infringing on the rights of others and support the empowerment of others in the community. 

Entitlement  

Something that you have a right to do or have.  

Equality 

Having access to the same opportunities in life as others to participate in community activities (regardless of age, sex, race, disability or any other characteristic). 

Gender 

An aspect of identity involving social attributes and opportunities linked to being female or male and the relationships between women and men and girls and boys, as well as the relations between women and those between men. These attributes, opportunities and relationships are socially constructed and are learned through social upbringing. They are context- and time-specific and changeable. 

Golden hour 

The moment a person affected receives his/her diagnosis (see Guide 2). 

Injustice 

Inequality or lack of fairness, commonly manifested in the context of employment opportunities, wages etc. ‘Injustice’ is often used interchangeably with ‘discrimination’ or is used in the same sentence as ‘discrimination’. This suggests that injustice and discrimination are two things that go together, though they are sometimes seen as different things. 

Human rights 

The rights that everyone has just by being human, irrespective of citizenship, nationality, race, ethnicity, language, gender, sexuality or abilities. You don’t have to be a member of a particular group, and nobody needs to give you your rights. Everyone is automatically entitled to enjoy the full range of human rights just because they are human (Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights). Every human being has rights by birth. 

Mental health 

Not just the absence of mental disorder; it is defined by WHO as ‘a state of wellbeing in which every individual realises his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community’.[6]  

Mental wellbeing 

A state in which the individual realises his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.[7] 

Neglected Tropical Diseases 

A set of communicable diseases that are predominant in tropical and sub-tropical conditions in 149 countries. The World Health Organisation listed 20 of them, from Buruli ulcer to yaws. NTDs are called ‘neglected’ as they have attracted little attention and funding from major health institutions. 

Participation 

A process that aims to empower people with disabilities by involving and including them equally with non-disabled peers in every aspect of life, including in political and social decision-making processes related to policymaking, planning and administration (WHO 2011). 

Psychosocial disabilities 

Disabilities that arise due to mental health issues. 

Psychosocial support 

Psychological or mental aid in recovery from hardship or challenges; sometimes referred to as ‘counselling’, ‘psychological first aid’ or ‘psychological help’. 

Referral 

Recommending or directing a person in need of care (drugs, equipment, skills) to where she or he can receive such care. 

Stigma   

A negative response to human differences. These human differences may be obvious visible signs or differences in behaviour, or they may be more subtle. If such negative responses are related to a health condition, we call this response ‘health-related stigma’ (Source: ILEP 2011 edition, Stigma Guideline 1). 

Time zero 

The moment a person is affected by an NTD, but not yet diagnosed (Guide 2). 

Wellbeing  

‘A positive physical, social and mental state; it is not just the absence of pain, discomfort and incapacity’. Wellbeing requires that basic needs are met, and inner wellbeing is about individuals having a sense of purpose and feeling they can achieve important personal goals and participate in society.