Disability - time for a new definition?

My dictionary defines disability as a physical or mental condition that limits a persons movements, senses, or activities.

The Equality Act 2010 defines it as a physical or mental impairment, which has a substantial and long term adverse affect on his/her ability to carry out normal day to day activities.

We all have a perception of the disabled. Or should I say had. Anyone watching the Paralympics and seeing one legged cyclists, swimmers with no arms and runners with no legs, have had that perception radically changed.

Sophie Christiansen was born two months prematurely with cerebral palsy. She has suffered from other health problems including jaundice, blood poisoning, a heart attack and a collapsed lung. She has won 5 gold medals, a silver and a bronze. She also has a Masters degree in mathematics.

Its ironic to think how may Paralympians might not satisfy the definition of disability under the Equality Act. They can all swim and run a lot faster than me.

So is it time to think not of someone as being disabled but just different?