CODE 1   Intellectual (including Down syndrome)

Applies to conditions appearing in the developmental period (age 0–18 years) associated with impairments of mental functions, difficulties in learning and performing certain daily life skills and limitations of adaptive skills in the context of community environments compared to others of the same age. It includes conditions such as Down syndrome, tuberous sclerosis, cri-du-chat syndrome.

CODE 2   Specific learning/Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) (other than intellectual)

Learning disability is a general term referring to a group of disabilities, presumed due to central nervous system dysfunction rather than an intellectual disability, covering significant difficulties in the acquisition and use of organisational skills, listening, speaking, reading, writing, reasoning or mathematical skills.

CODE 3  Autism (including Asperger's syndrome and Pervasive Developmental Delay)

Autism is used to describe pervasive developmental disorders involving disturbances in cognition, interpersonal communication, social interactions and behaviour (in particular obsessive, ritualistic, stereotyped and rigid behaviours).

CODE 4  Physical

Physical disability is used to describe conditions that are attributable to a physical cause or impact on the ability to perform physical activities, such as mobility. Physical disability often includes impairments of the neuromusculoskeletal systems including, for example, the effects of paraplegia, quadriplegia, muscular dystrophy, motor neurone disease, neuromuscular disorders, cerebral palsy, absence or deformities of limbs, spina bifida, arthritis, back disorders, ataxia, bone formation or degeneration, and scoliosis.

CODE 5  Acquired brain injury

Acquired brain injury is used to describe multiple disabilities arising from damage to the brain acquired after birth. Results in deterioration in cognitive, physical, emotional or independent functioning. May be as a result of accidents, stroke, brain tumours, infection, poisoning, lack of oxygen or degenerative neurological disease.

CODE 6  Neurological (including epilepsy and Alzheimer's disease)

Neurological disability applies to impairments of the nervous system occurring after birth, including epilepsy and organic dementias (for example, Alzheimer’s disease) as well as conditions such as multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease.

CODE 7  Deafblind (dual sensory)

Deafblind refers to dual sensory impairments associated with severe restrictions in communication, and participation in community life. Deafblindness is not just vision impairment with a hearing loss, or a hearing loss with a vision impairment. Deafblindness is a unique disability of its own requiring distinct communication and teaching practices.

CODE 8  Vision

Vision disability encompasses blindness and vision impairment (not corrected by glasses or contact lenses), which can cause severe restriction in communication and mobility, and in the ability to participate in community life.

CODE 9  Hearing

Hearing disability encompasses deafness, hearing impairment and hearing loss.

CODE 10  Speech

Speech disability encompasses speech loss, impairment and/or difficulty in being understood.

CODE 11  Psychiatric

Psychiatric disability includes recognisable symptoms and behaviour patterns, frequently associated with distress, which may impair personal functioning in normal social activity. Includes the typical effects of conditions such as schizophrenia, affective disorders, anxiety disorders, addictive behaviours, personality disorders, stress, psychosis, depression and adjustment disorders.
For psychiatric disability one would normally expect there to be a diagnosis. General issues with behaviour (where there is no specific diagnosis) should be reflected in the support needs captured in the Activity and participation need for assistance cluster (for example, support needs in relation to ‘interpersonal interactions and relationships’) rather than here.

CODE 12  Developmental delay

Applies to children aged 0–5 where conditions have appeared in the early developmental period, but no specific diagnosis has been made and the specific disability group is not yet known.

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2016. Disability Services National Minimum Data Set: data guide, July 2016. Cat. no. DAT 4. Canberra: AIHW.