"Disabilities and chronic illnesses can be significant barriers to daily functioning. For many disabled people, the biggest challenge of living with a disability is not the disability itself, but the way society responds to that disability. Buildings, classrooms, workplaces, and virtually every aspect of daily life are all structured around a presumed norm. Many disability scholars and activists define disability not as a deficit or a specific list of illnesses. Instead, disability is the product of society’s attitudes. Disabilities and chronic illnesses are common. They call into question the very notion of a normal or healthy person. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, nearly one in five Americans (19%) has a disability. Other estimates put the figure higher. According to the 2012 National Health Interview Survey, more than 25 million Americans (11.2%) live with chronic pain. An additional 40 million (17.6%) experience “severe” levels of chronic pain. People who live with mental and physical health disabilities may find help in therapy. A therapist can support a client to manage the stress of disability, navigate the effects of disability on relationships, and advocate for their needs."