There is not a single definition of disability that forms the basis for all
legislation on disability rights issues. The following table details the various
definitions of disability contained within Panamanian law.
Table 1: Definitions of Disability in Panamanian Law
| Document | Date | Definition |
| Law 1 Protection of Hearing-impaired Persons | 28 January 1992 | Disabled Person: Any individual suffering from a permanent or temporary, total or partial functional disorder, whether physical, sensory, emotional or intellectual, which restricts the effective execution of activities regarding familial, social, educational or occupational integration. |
| Law 3 Family Code | 17 May 1994 Amended in 1995 | 'Disabled Person' means any individual suffering from any limitation or restriction, resulting from an impairment, of ability to perform an activity in the manner or within the range considered normal for a human being. The State shall put in place a multi-sector and inter-institutional coordination program to guarantee his or her comprehensive development and his or her social insertion. |
| Law 42 Equalization of Opportunities for People with Disabilities | 27 August 1999 | Permanent or temporary, total or partial functional disorder, whether physical, sensory or intellectual, which restricts an individual's ability to perform an activity in the manner or within the range considered normal for a human being. |
| Executive Order 46 Rules for the Care of Persons with Disabilities | 28 December 1998 | Permanent or temporary functional disorder, either physical or mental that limits an individual's ability to maintain an adequate integration at the familial, social, educational or occupational levels. |
Other official documents such as the Procedural Guide for the Regulation of Executive Order 1 and the "Diagnosis on the Quality of Life of Persons with Disabilities in the Province of Panama" are based upon similar, but slightly varied definitions. Overall, these definitions emphasize the physical or sensory impairment of an individual. However, by also including within the definition the concept of restrictions on activities and life roles, these definitions represent an improvement over the medical model of disability.
Most of the laws include within their purview people with physical, sensory, or mental disabilities. Only Law 1 and the Family Code include people with psychiatric disabilities.