Persons with Disabilities Physical and Medical Disabilities

Physical/Medical Disabilities Genetic Congenital  At birth or soon after birth  May or may not be genetic Disease Acquired  Injury/accidents

Hidden/Invisible Disabilities Asthma Diabetes Kidney diseases Hemophilia Epilepsy Sickle cell anemia Cardiac problems Cystic fibrosis

Physical and Medical Disabilities Types:  Mobility Impairments  Visual Impairments  Hearing Impairments  Medical/Systemic Impairments

Mobility Impairments Physical limitations Stamina limitations Endurance limitations

Mobility Impairments Amputation Arthritis Cerebral palsy Neuromuscular/Neurological disorders Acquired/Traumatic Brain Injury Spinal Cord Injury

Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis Chronic arthritis of unknown causes  Autoimmune disease Infancy-older child Joints swell, bone growth changes Pain, tenderness Internal problems

Cerebral Palsy Disorder of movement  Muscle weakness/Muscle spasms  Balance and coordination (ataxia) Damage to the motor control areas of the brain  Injury before, during or after birth Oxygen deprivation (near drowning, cardiac arrest) Head injury/Being shaken RH incompatibility Prematurity  Disease of the mother: Rubella Meningitis Shingles Toxoplasmosis Diabetes Toxemia

Neuromuscular and Neurological Disabilities Damage to the nervous systems  Brain and spine injury  Heart attacks  Serious infections  Lack of oxygen to the brain Loss of physical and/or mental functions  Movement  Manipulation of objects  Expression of feelings  Thinking  Processing of information

Neuromuscular Disorders Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis Multiple sclerosis Muscular dystrophy

Neuromuscular Disorders Genetic Immune system disorder

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis Nerve cells in brain and spinal cord are attacked. Usually between ages Majority are male. Can run in families. Difficulties:  Walking/running  Writing  Speech problems

Multiple Sclerosis Myelin sheath of nerve cells damaged. Affects more women than men. Begins ages Difficulties:  Visual disturbances  Muscle weakness  Difficulty with coordination and balance  Numbness  Thinking and memory problems.

Muscular Dystrophy More than 30 inherited diseases. Muscle weakness and loss.  Heart and diaphragm. Appears from infancy to middle/old age.

Spina Bifida Genetic/Influenced by drugs/chemicals Neural tube defect  Baby’s spinal cord does not develop normally during pregnancy. Partial or full paralysis of the legs Difficulties with bowel or bladder control Fluid in the brain Bone and joint deformities Curvature of the spine

Acquired/Traumatic Brain Injury Injury to the head or brain  50,000 people per year  College students are in a high risk category Boys are twice as likely as girls to have injuries to the brain or spinal cord. Loss of abilities:  Cognitive/memory  Communicative  Motor  Psychosocial  Sensory

Acquired/Traumatic Brain Injury Need routine Need step by step directions Need repetition Need reinforcement of learning

Spinal Cord Injury Causes:  Motor vehicle accidents Usually involving alcohol  Gunshot wounds  Sports injuries Hockey, farm accidents, diving accidents Late adolescence and young adulthood Paralysis Lack of sensation Depends of the level of injury and how complete the spine is severed.

Etiquette: Persons in Wheelchairs Wait until the person asks for assistance. Ask if the person wants your assistance. Do not lean on the chair. Sit down to be at the person’s eye level after a few minutes. No patting on the head.

Visual Impairments Disease, accidents, congenital illnesses. Legally blind:  See at 20 feet what a normal person sees at 200 feet.

Visual Impairments Explain verbally what you are doing Be descriptive when using visual aids. Tell when someone comes in or leaves the room. Ask if the person wants assistance. Give copies of materials. Do not pet guide dogs.

Hearing Impairments: Communication Disability Physical damage, at birth, disease during pregnancy, exposure to very loud noises, ear infections. Needs visual clues.

Hearing Impairments Good lighting and quiet location. Do not talk while you are walking away. Look and speak directly to the person. Make sure the person can see your face and lips no chewing). Do not address the interpreter. Identify your topic at the beginning. May need to repeat or rephrase.

Medical/Systemic Impairments Cancer Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Diabetes Epilepsy/Seizure Disorder Lupus Cystic Fibrosis

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Extreme fatigue not relieved by rest.  Memory impairment  Muscle pain  Joint pain  Headaches  Sore throat  Tender neck/armpit lymph nodes Four times as many women than men. People in 40s and 50s. Sometimes seen in members of the same family.

Epilepsy/Seizure Disorder Brain cells do not work properly Momentary loss of consciousness with muscle twitching Abrupt jerking of muscles Sudden loss of consciousness and muscle tone

Lupus Chronic inflammatory disease usually involving the skin, joints, blood and kidneys. Environmental and genetic causes.  Infections, antibiotics (sulfa/penicillin family).  Ultraviolet light, extreme stress, hormones. Can occur in either gender and at any age.  Occurs times more in adult females. People of African, American Indian and Asian origin may develop the disease more frequently.

Lupus Symptoms with remissions and flare ups:  Achy and/or swelling joints  Fever  Fatigue  Skin rashes (butterfly on checks and nose)  Chest pain when breathing deep  Kidney involvement  Sun or light sensitivity  Hair loss  Seizures  Mouth or nose ulcers  Raynaud’s Syndrome Fingers turning white or blue in the cold

Cystic Fibrosis Genetic  Defective gene produces thick, sticky mucus, sweat, saliva and digestive juices.  Northern Europeans are at more risk. Lung and pancreas damage Respiratory infections Nutritional deficiencies

Possible Accommodations Priority registration Extended time for exams Distraction-reduced environment Consideration for absences Frequent breaks Copy of professor’s notes Food/beverages in class Books on tape Enlarged font Use of a computer Note-taker Reader Scribe Moving classes to accessible locations

Activity How can we modify our labs to be more accessible?