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Defining "can't do" ​
Last edited on: 12-6-2026
DISCLAIMER
Even though this information has been written with as much scientific accuracy in mind, it is NOT based on actual scientific research. It's purely something I thought of myself. Don't take it too seriously.
Even though this information has been written with as much scientific accuracy in mind, it is NOT based on actual scientific research. It's purely something I thought of myself. Don't take it too seriously.
Contents:
Introduction ​
There can be different ways in which someone isn't able to do something. I gave each of the ways I could think of a name, divided into 4 categories:
- Physically unable
- Practically unable
- Executive-functionally unable
- Rationally unable
I'll explain what I mean with each category. I've used the same task in each example to hopefully make the differences clearer. This task is: making a grilled cheese.
Physically unable ​
Being physically unable means that you physically can't so something. This can be because of different reasons.
Here are a few examples:
- You don't have hands, so you can't make the grilled cheese.
- Your arms are paralyzed, so you can't make the grilled cheese.
- Your hands tremble so much you can't make the grilled cheese.
- And many more.
Practically unable ​
When you're practically unable, you do have the physical ability to do the task. However, there's a practical reason as to why you still can't start of finish the task. You can't do the task, because in practice you can't. So you're practically unable.
There are multiple subcategories of being practically unable:
- Skill-relatedly unable
- Risk-relatedly unable
- Sensory-emotionally unable
- Symptom-relatedly unable
Skill-relatedly unable ​
When you're skill-relatedly unable you don't have the knowledge or skills necessary to start or finish the task. Examples are:
- You don't know the steps to make the grilled cheese, so you can't make it.
- You don't gat how you should execute 1 or more steps when making the grilled cheese, so you can't make it.
- And more.
Risk-relatedly unable ​
When you're risk-relatedly unable you do have the knowledge to do the task, but it's not safe for you to start or finish it. Examples are:
- You can't safely use the grill to make a grilled cheese, because you could seriously injure yourself. Because of this you can't make the grilled cheese.
- You aren't able to safely use knives, because you rist accidentally hurting yourself. Because of this you can't make the grilled cheese.
- And more.
Sensory-emotionally unable ​
When you're sensory-emotionally unable you do know how to do the task and to do so without injuring yourself. But because of sensory of emotional factors you can't regulate well, you still can't start or finish the task. Examples are:
- You usually get overstimulated when you make a grilled cheese, which dysregulates you to the point of not being able to finish making it. Because of this you can't make the grilled cheese.
- You have a specific phobia which causes you to panic when you make a grilled cheese. Because of this you can't make it.
- And more.
Symptom-relatedly unable ​
When you're symptom-relatedly unable, you have the knowledge to do the task, are able to do it safely, and can regulate your sensory and emotion experience with it well. However, worsening physical symptoms make it so you can't finish the task. Examples are:
- While making the grilled cheese your chronic pain usually gets a lot worse, which makes it that you can't finish making it. Because of this you can't make the grilled cheese.
- While making the grilled cheese you usually get so fatigued you can't finish making it. Because of this you can't make the grilled cheese.
- And more.
Executive-functionally unable ​
Being executive-functionally unable means you are able to do the task, but can't start or finish it because of problems with executive functioning. Executive functioning is a group of skills. For example, how well your working memory is, or how good you are in starting or finishing a task. You can read more about executive functioning on this page (not yet available in English). Here are a few examples:
- Your brain won't let you switch from what you're doing now to starting to make the grilled cheese. This means you can't start making it.
- You know how to make the grilled cheese, but keep forgetting the steps and can't seem to remember them after you forget. Because of this you can't finish making it.
- You get overwhelmed by the steps you need to take to make the grilled cheese, so you can't start or continue making it.
- And many more.
Rationally unable ​
Being rationally unable means you can physically start and complete the task, but you reluctantly decide to not do so because it would be bad for you.
Here are a few examples:
- You have very little energy and making the grilled cheese will mean you won't have energy left to do other things that are very important. Making a grilled cheese could mean you can't shower and brush your teeth after. This means you reluctantly decide to not make the grilled cheese, so you can't make it in this case.
- You get overwhelmed easily. You could make the grilled cheese, but that would mean you will have to rest for a while after. But you don't have to time to rest, maybe because of an important appointment later that day. If you still made the grilled cheese, you might have trouble concentrating during that important appointment. This can mean you don't remember important information. All this together means you reluctantly decide to not make the grilled cheese; you can't make it.
- When making a grilled cheese, the chronic pain you usually have becomes much worse. The pain might be worse for quite a few days afterwards too. This means you reluctantly decide to not make the grilled cheese, because it's not a wise decision. You can't make the grilled cheese.
- And many more.
NB: When you can start the task but not finish it because of similar reason as the examples above, the "can't do" categorie would be "practically unable," specifically "symptom-relatedly unable." Only when you could complete the task does it fit under rationally unable within my framework.
Hierarchy ​
In my opinion, there's a hierarchy between the different categories of "can't do":
- Physically unable
- Practically unable
- Executive-functionally unable
- Rationally unable
This ranking doesn't mean one of the reason is more or less valid than another. Each of these reasons are valid reasons to not do something because they have the same result; the task that needs to be done doesn't get done. However, it's important to remember that the experience of people with different reasons can be very different.
When looking at which category of "can't do" fits your situation, you could be torn between different categories. In this case you can take the one hightest is the hierarchy. Other uses of the hierarchy will be explained later.
Conclusion ​
Within my framework there are 4 different categories of "can't do":
- Physically unable; you physically can't start or finish the task.
- Practically unable; you can physically do the task, but other practical reasons make it that you can't start of finish it. This contains:
- Skill-relatedly unable; you don't have the knowledge or skills needed to start or finish the task.
- Risk-relatedly unable; it's not safe for you to do the task, so you can't do it.
- Sensory-emotionally unable; sensory or emotional reasons prevent you from being able to start or finish the task.
- Symptom-relatedly unable; because of worsening physical symptoms you can't finish the task.
- Executive-functionally unable; you can do the task in theory, but you can't start or finish it because of executive dysfunction.
- Rationally unable; you could start and finish the task, but you reluctantly decide to not do so because it would have a big negative impact on you.
This is everything for this subject. Click here to return to the "Support needs labels: Esther's interpretation" page.