Is AIDS a disability?

I'm sort of an AIDS activist. I've been studying the disease since the 7th grade and plan to work my life around helping people with it.
At the moment I'm supposed to write a one-act play with the theme of disability. Now since I'm an AIDS activist of sorts I'd love to write the play with the theme of AIDS but is it really a disability? I've found many articles that debate the topic but never get a straight answer.

If it's not considered a disability it should be, but if it's not, I'll write it about Autism. I know a lot about that, too. Haha

Wow, there are some really great UNEDUCATED answers here!!

I believe that people with full blown AIDS, not just living with HIV, are legally considered permanently physically disabled. You know as well as I that once the disease progresses to a certain point, the patient is no longer able to work. I believe they can qualify for SSI, SSDI or Social Security, depending upon circumstances such as work history.

For all of you who choose to be ignorant to the facts about HIV/AIDS, it is not an unavoidable disease, nor is it only (or even mostly) sexually transmitted. Before you spew your hatred, get educated.

I do not believe so, nor should it be. It is a totally avoidable disease, but due to bad choices that some groups of people
make you have the illness, but it is not a disability.

ask a person with AIDS. I don't think anyone really knows until we live it. how would a person with it, that lives with it every day feel about being called disabled?

You can only draw disability for AIDS if you T-Cell count is low enough. In other words, it depends how sick you are.

Well you could consider the fact it cripples your immune system then your immune system is technically "disabled". But it really isn't FULLY disabled hence the word is Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome not Acquired Immune Disability Syndrome.

I have a friend whose wife has AIDS, and she gets ATD (aid for the totally disabled). If the United States government thinks it's a disability, then it's a disability.

i'm a man of knowledge of autism,i've been active in autisum for 41yr and theres no compareson to aids,if u want to right a play adout aids ,do so,believe me we got enough trouble as is

i aint touching this one . wow what a can of worms!

I've learned this from WebMD and from being educated by many physicians and the dept. of health that HIV infection is caused by the human immunodeficiency virus. You can get HIV from contact with infected blood, semen, or vaginal fluids.

Most people get the virus by having unprotected sex with someone who has HIV.

Another common way of getting the virus is by sharing drug needles with someone who is infected with HIV.
The virus can also be passed from a mother to her baby during pregnancy, birth, or breast-feeding.

If people avoid these serious behaviors then the risk of getting AIDS is 0. I've never heard of anyone getting HIV or even an STD for that matter by abstaining from sex.

common sense... if play, you will pay......with your life.