Transcript OHI
Understanding Students with Physical Disabilities and Other Health Impairments Defining Physical Disabilities • IDEA uses the term orthopedic impairments, but educators typically use the term physical disabilities. • Typically refers to a large group of students who experience conditions that are very different from each other • The term may also be used to include with: – Severe and multiple disabilities – Traumatic brain injury • Focus on two types of physical disabilities: – Cerebral palsy – Spina bifida Characteristics of Cerebral Palsy • • A disorder of movement or posture due to damage in the brain Multiple Types – – – – – • Spastic Dyskinetic Athetoid Ataxic Mixed Causes – Prenatal – Perinatal – Postnatal • Other associated conditions – – – – Possible intellectual disability Speech/language problems Vision impairments Seizures Characteristics of Spina Bifida • Malformation of the spinal cord • Three common forms – Spina bifida occulta – Meningocele – Myelomeningocele • Causes – Occurs in early pregnancy due to environmental and genetic factors – Mothers using regular supplements containing folic acid reduce their risk – Other associated conditions • Usually does not affect intelligence • Depending on location of the defect, may cause incontinence or other urinary and bowel problems Defining Other Health Impairments • IDEA defines as chronic health problems those that have an adverse impact on educational performance • Distinguished from severe and multiple disabilities, physical disabilities, and traumatic brain injuries • May be: – Chronic: develops slowly and has long-lasting symptoms – Acute: develops quickly with intense symptoms that last a relatively short period of time. Prevalence of Other Health Impairments • In 2006, 595, 073 students (0.99%) of the ages 6 to 21 served under IDEA • Of all students, 10 to 30% will experience a childhood chronic illness lasting three months or longer • More than 200 specific health impairments exist Characteristics of Epilepsy • Characterized by seizures (abnormal electrical discharges in the brain) – Generalized seizures • Tonic-clonic • Absence – Partial seizures • Simple partial • Complex partial Characteristics of Epilepsy • Conditions associated with epilepsy – Most children have lower IQ and academic achievement – They are at risk for being diagnosed with AD/HD – Adolescents with epilepsy are reported to have higher levels of depression • Causes – Approximately 40% of individuals with epilepsy have a genetic contribution – Environmental factors include: prenatal brain infections, birth trauma, and poisoning, stress, fatigue sleep deprivation – In three-fourths of individuals with epilepsy, the cause is unknown Characteristics of Asthma • Most prevalent chronic illness of children and leading cause of school absences • Symptoms can vary widely – Mild intermittent – Mild persistent – Moderate persistent – Severe persistent Characteristics of Asthma • Conditions associated with asthma – Fatigue from waking during the night because of breathing difficulties – Absences from school due to symptoms – Fatigue and school absenteeism are associated with lower academic performance • Causes – Asthma symptoms are triggered by food, exercise, cold air, respiratory infections, and environmental allergens, including cigarette smoke, dust, mold, gases and chemicals – Something asthma is an inherited condition Determining the Presence of Physical Disabilities and Other Health Impairments • Neuroimaging • Prenatal screening – Maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein – Fetal surgery Determining the Nature of Specially Designed Instruction and Services • School Function Assessment – Participation – Task supports – Activity performance Partnering for Special Education and Related Services • Health condition must adversely impact educational performance for an IEP • Otherwise develop a 504 plan • Components of the health care plan (Figure 12.7) Planning for Other Educational Needs • Adaptive PE • Allows for students with disabilities to participate in a typical sport or physical activity • Modified equipment – Beeping ball for student with visual impairment Making Accommodations for Assessment • • • • • Computer-based assessment Frequent breaks Scribe Physical access to testing environment Security concerns, test materials, and environmental controls