IDEA Definition:Orthopedic impairment means a severe orthopedic impairment that adversely affects a child's educational performance. The term includes impairments caused by a congenital anomaly, impairments caused by disease (e.g., poliomyelitis, bone tuberculosis), and impairments from other causes (e.g., cerebral palsy, amputations, and fractures or burns that cause contractures).
Other health impairment means having limited strength, vitality, or alertness, including a heightened alertness to environmental stimuli, that results in limited alertness with respect to the educational environment, that-- (i) Is due to chronic or acute health problems such as asthma, attention deficit disorder or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, diabetes, epilepsy, a heart condition, hemophilia, lead poisoning, leukemia, nephritis, rheumatic fever, sickle cell anemia, and Tourette syndrome; and (ii) Adversely affects a child's educational performance. |
Learning and Behavioral Characteristics |
The learning and behavioral characteristics vary with every individual. Some may have a harder time in the learning process and even being able to manage their emotions and behaviors. To better understand what could be the characteristics, one must better inform themselves of the disability in itself and get to know the student. Often times a physically disability can accompany another disability. Such as individuals with cerebral palsy may have speech/language disorders, intellectual deficits, vision impairments and hearing. Many students will be able to be in a general education classroom, actually the majority will be. However, some cases are more severe and these students will be place in the special education program.
In the section below are a list of some different physical disabilities and their definitions. It is imperative that educators know the different types of disabilities as to better help and understand their students. For example, a student that has asthma may have difficulty performing physical tasks, they may even miss a lot of school because of it. Educators need to be aware of this and work closely with the student, parents, and the school. Along with this, the IQ of an individual with a physical disability is normally normal or above average. However, there are cases as to it being lower. |
Teaching Accommodations |
-Be aware of specific needs for each individual
-Teach to their strengths, allow other activities if child is unable to physically complete a task. -Teach the other children about the different disabilities so they can better understand -Depending on the severity of every physical disability will determine certain accommodations or modifications to be made in the classroom. -Take the time to better know the student and their situation -You may need to get assignments to them if they miss a lot of school. |
Different Physical Disabilities:
Cerebral Palsy: Occurring in the fetal development or shortly after birth. CP affects muscle/body movement and is a neuromuscular disorder; poor motor control can include other disorders.
Spina Bifida: Malformations of the spinal chord; an abnormal opening in the spinal column.
Spinal Cord Injury: When the spinal cord is traumatized or severed. There are damages that result in a loss of functioning.
Muscular Dystrophy: Progressive weakness and degeneration of the skeletal muscles that control movement; may even involve other organs.
AIDS: Symptoms and infections resulting in injury to the immune system.
Asthma: A limitation of air; swelling and inflammation of the air passages (from mouth/nose to lungs).
Epilepsy: When the nerve cells, or neurons, in the brain signal abnormally; to have multiple seizures.
Diabetes: Developmental or hereditary characterized by inadequate secretion or use of insulin.
Traumatic Brain Injury: When sudden trauma causes injury to the brain (hitting the head violently or something enters the brain tissue).
Spina Bifida: Malformations of the spinal chord; an abnormal opening in the spinal column.
Spinal Cord Injury: When the spinal cord is traumatized or severed. There are damages that result in a loss of functioning.
Muscular Dystrophy: Progressive weakness and degeneration of the skeletal muscles that control movement; may even involve other organs.
AIDS: Symptoms and infections resulting in injury to the immune system.
Asthma: A limitation of air; swelling and inflammation of the air passages (from mouth/nose to lungs).
Epilepsy: When the nerve cells, or neurons, in the brain signal abnormally; to have multiple seizures.
Diabetes: Developmental or hereditary characterized by inadequate secretion or use of insulin.
Traumatic Brain Injury: When sudden trauma causes injury to the brain (hitting the head violently or something enters the brain tissue).