Each person is unique, and each disability affects each person differently. The information in this section is a very simple overview of some common disabilities. It is aimed to provide a starting point for more research. Use the assessment tools to learn as much as you can about the individual. The person with the disability and/or their caregiver will understand their abilities better than anyone else.

Partial or complete removal of a limb. The causes are varied including but not limited to: accident, congenital disorder, peripheral vascular disease, cancer, and diabetes.

Here are a number of example amputations:

• AK – Above knee.
• BK – Below knee.
• AE – Above elbow.
• BE – Below elbow.
• Hip Disarticulation – Amputation at the hip joint, this preserves the pelvis and the soft tissue to the buttocks.
• HP Hemipelvectomy – This amputation includes half of the pelvis and the limb leaving, only the soft tissue of the buttocks.
• Shoulder Disarticulation – Amputation at the shoulder joint.
• Unilateral Amputations – on the same side.
• Bilateral Amputations – on both sides. This can include: 1) amputation of both legs, 2) amputation of both arms, 3) amputation of an arm on one side and leg on the other

For above knee amputations people will generally ski without their prosthesis. This is changing as new prosthesis technology allows more freedom to ski with a prosthesis.

Most snowboarders – above and below the knee will use a sport prosthesis with shock technology to snowboard with. Of importance is how new the amputation is, how good is circulation, how will the limb handle the cold, and protection from impact.