This review of the literature on disabilities considers: (1) their effect on individuals, families, and society; (2) their causes; and (3) their prevention. Individual subsections address such aspects as defining disabilities; causes of disabilities at various stages of the life cycle; emotional, social, legal, and practical aspects of effects of disabilities; defining the prevention of disability; current primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention efforts; and the cost of prevention. The paper concludes with a rationale and description of a program to instruct students in grades 7 to 9 about prevention and amelioration of disabilities. This program has been designed to be taught as an independent course but can also be incorporated into a family life curriculum. Each grade's teaching module contains a unit of general information about disabilities, a unit to encourage positive attitudes toward people with disabilities, and a unit about methods for preventing disabilities. Appendices provide addresses for obtaining related instructional materials and cost figures for services to people with disabilities in Saskatchewan (Canada). (Contains 93 references.) (DB)