Physical Disabilities and Other Health Impairments (OHI) Amy Swederski

What do you already know? 1.Are physical disabilities genetic? 2.What are the causes and can they be prevented? 3.Is there a correlation with academic achievement? 4.Can individuals with physical disabilities lead a “normal” life? 5.What are some stigmas associated with physical disabilities? 1.Most are not. Muscular Dystrophy is hereditary. 2.Depends on the disability. Many can be prevented. 3.Not necessarily. 4.Many can!!

Physical Disabilities Defined: “Children with physical disabilities or other health impairments are those whose physical limitations or health problems interfere with school attendance or leaning to such an extent that special services, training, equipment, materials, or facilities are needed.” (Hallahan and Kauffman, 2009, Pg 495)

Prevalence 0.9% of the school population 0.14% : orthopedic 0.76% : OHI (That is the amount receiving services, not the amount in need of services) Developmental delay, TBI, Multiple Disabilities. 1990’s-2004 increase Reduce risk factors/Prevention

Characteristics Academic Characteristics For some, there aren’t any! Use of alternative instructional methods Attendance issues Personality Influenced by the public Positive home relationship Acceptance Adolescence/Puberty

Etiology and How it affects the individual? It depends! Type of disability Severity Affected areas CausesIntellectual Coordination/ Mobility Communication / Speech TBI Traumatic Brain Injury TRAUMA!!! to the brain after birth Memory Reasoning Slowed or delayed speech development. CP Cerebral Palsy Damage to a brain before maturity. Dependent upon severity. Some average and above. Most below average Atonic Spasticity Para/Quad Choreoathetoid Spina Bifida Spinal cord did not fuse properly during fetal development Paralysis Anal/Bladder Braces/wheelchairs Speech may be affected/delayed due to the region on the spine that is affected. Muscular Dystrophy Intellectual abilities are not affected! Little to no mobility due to the deterioration of muscles. Speech may be lost as muscles continue to weaken. Epilepsy/ Seizures Areas of the brain that have been damaged Majority have no intellectual implications. ? ????? Spina Bifida Video

Things to consider Educational considerations –Attendance –How to accommodate –Power of knowledge! –Focus on strengths –Placement (LRE) Health –Treatments –Therapy What can you do to help?

Transition Assess needs of the individual –Take into account the student’s desires –Accommodations/Modifications needed –Strengths/Weaknesses Training Living Arrangements Services Video of Tim from Maine. Tim - Independent Living

Assessment Attached to the wiki is the unfinished table. Your assignment is to complete the table using your preferred, reliable source of reference. Please be brief (bullets) and cite the source you used. For the Epilepsy row (two boxes), fill in the dimensions that educators should use when observing a seizure. You may use both boxes.

References Flynn, James (Producer), O’Donnell, Damien (Director). (2005). Rory O’Shea Was Here [Motion Picture]. United States:Focus Features Gupta, Nalin MD, PhD. (2009 February 06). What is Spina Bifida? [Video File]. Video posted to ZlCghttp:// ZlCg Hallahan, D.P., Kauffman, J.M. & Pullen, P.C., (2009). Exceptional Learners: Introduction to Special Education (11 th Ed.). Boston: Allyn and Bacon Tim, 2006 June, 11. Independent-living for physical disabilities in the community. Retrieved from oid= oid=