Overview

Ability is a social determinant of injury and health, as it can be directly linked to an individual's risk of being injured. Individuals who have certain mental or physical disorders, can be at greater risk of both intentional and unintentional injury.

For example, children, adolescents, and adults with ADHD (attention- deficient/hyperactivity disorder) are more likely to experience unintentional injury, affecting them at all stages of life (Brunkhorst-Kanaan et al., 2021).

Another example can be individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) requiring a specific type of car seat when traveling to meet their needs. However, many types of these car seats are not sold in retail. Some individuals with ASD may also have behaviors which lead them to unbuckling their seat belt or car seat, increasing their risk of an unintentional injury (ROSPA, n.d). 

References:
Brunkhorst-Kanaan, N., Libutzki, B., Reif, A., Larsson, H., McNeill, R. V., & Kittel-Schneider, S. (2021). ADHD and accidents over the life span–A systematic review. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 125, 582-591.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA) (n.d) Transporting Children with Additional Needs. Retrieved January 17, 2024 from, https://www.childcarseats.org.uk/media/1024/carrying-children-with-additional-needs-guide.pdf

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