Physical and Health Disabilities
Marissa Raimond
Definition of Physical Disabilities
Defintion of Health Disability
Types of Physical Disabilities
Neuromotor Impairments
Cerebral Palsy
Spina Bifida
Spinal Cord Injury
Epilepsy
Muscular/Skeletal Conditions
Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis
Brittle Bone Disease
Amputation/limb deficiencies
Scoliosis
Characteristics of Physical Disabilities
Paralysis
Low/altered muscle tone
Unsteady gait
Loss/inability to use one or more limbs
Difficulty with gross-motor skills (Ex: walking, running)
Difficulty with fine-motor skills (Ex: writing, buttoning a shirt)
Types of Health Disabilities
Chronic Illnesses
Cystic Fibrosis
Juvenile Diabetes
Childhood Cancer
Asthma
Congenital Heart Defects
Tuberculosis
Infectious Diseases
HIV/AIDS
Hepatitis B
Characteristics of Health Disabilities
Fatigue
Mobility problems
Inattention
Coordination difficulties
Muscle weakness
Reduced stamina
Prevalence
Physical and Health Disabilities are considered low incidence disabilities
Physical Disabilities: 0.09% require special services
Health Disabilities: 1.38% require special services
ADHD is included in this category! ADHD is responsible for the dramatic yearly increase in the size of the health disabilities category.
Teaching Accommodations
For difficulty with gross motor skills such as walking teachers can:
-move objects out of the way of the student
-provide a motorized wheelchair
-adjust tables, desks, and other furniture
Home Accommodations
Push furniture out of the way and secure any loose objects (ex: rugs)
Install ramps or elevators. This makes it easier for motorized wheelchairs to move around the house.
Create a schedule of when medication should be taken. This way, important medications will never be missed.
Have a PT, OT, or Speech Pathologist come to the home. This will help the child with motor skills or language skills.
Schedule time to do homework/chores when the child is less fatigued
Additional Resources for Parents and Teachers
Apps
This app turns your device into a magnifying glass. Read tiny print and look at small objects.
iHear Dialer allows you to dial phone numbers without looking at the keypad. As you move your hand around on the keypad, the dialer will tell you what number your finger is on and when you want that number, just release your finger.
Resources
Books & Resources. (n.d.). Retrieved May 7, 2015, from http://www.nsta.org/disabilities/
Physical Disability | National Center on Accessible Instructional Materials. (2014). Retrieved May 4, 2015, from http://aim.cast.org/learn/disabilityspecific/physical#.VUrzFJVFA9g
Services for Parents with Disabilities. (2014). Retrieved May 4, 2015, from http://www.lookingglass.org/services/local-services/services-for-parents-with-disabilities
The DRM WebWatcher: Just for Parents (and Service Providers). (2014). Retrieved May 3, 2015, from http://www.disabilityresources.org/PARENTS-OF.html
Bennett, K. S., & Hay, D. A. (2007). The Role of Family in the Development of Social Skills in Children with Physical Disabilities. International Journal Of Disability, Development And Education, 54(4), 381-397.
Comprehensive overview of other health impairments. (2007). Retrieved from National Association of Special Education Teachers: https://www.naset.org/2278.0.html
Heller, K. W., & Swinehart-Jones, D. (2003). Supporting the Educational Needs of Students with Orthopedic Impairments. Physical Disabilities: Education And Related Services, 22(1), 3-24.
Kendall, R. M. (1991). Unique Educational Needs of Learners with Physical and Other Health Impairments.
Milota, C., PACER Center, I. M., & And, O. (1991). Count Me In: Resource Manual on Disabilities.
Physical disability. (2015, April 10). Retrieved from Department of Education and Early Childhood Development: http://www.ed.gov.nl.ca/edu/k12/studentsupportservices/physical.html
Other health impairments. (2014, May). Retrieved from Center for Parent Information and Resources: http://www.parentcenterhub.org/repository/ohi/
Smith, D. D., & Tyler, N. C. (2014). Introduction to contemporary special education new horizons. Pearson Education.
Venn, J., & ERIC Clearinghouse on Handicapped and Gifted Children, R. V. (1989). Students with Physical Disabilities and Health Impairments. Revised. ERIC Digest #459.