Crossword Genius

Disabled adult struggling with item (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

mutilated

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'disabled' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are adjectives. Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?

'adult struggling with item' is the wordplay.
'struggling with' indicates anagramming the letters (the letters struggle or wriggle into a new form).
'adult' with its letters mixed up with 'item' makes 'MUTILATED'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Another definition for mutilated that I've seen is " Mangled".)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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