How does habilitation differ from rehabilitation?

Habilitation is specifically aimed at helping individuals acquire new skills or abilities that they may not have previously possessed, particularly in the context of developmental or cognitive disabilities. This process is often crucial for individuals who are learning how to perform daily activities, such as a child with a developmental delay or an adult adjusting to a new impairment. The focus is on enabling these individuals to achieve the best possible level of functioning in their daily lives through skill acquisition.

In contrast, rehabilitation is centered on helping individuals recover abilities that they have lost due to injury, illness, or disability. This might involve physical therapy after a stroke, where the goal is to restore movement and function that was lost. The rehabilitation process typically builds on existing skills and seeks to restore them to their previous level.

The distinction highlighted in the correct answer emphasizes the foundational difference in purpose and approach between habilitation and rehabilitation. Habilitation is about development and learning, while rehabilitation is about recovery and restoration.