Other Health Impairments

Definition:

ü  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

Characteristics:

ü  Fatigue, Mobility issues, Issues involving attention, Coordination difficulties, Muscle weakness, Frequent absences or lateness’s to school, Stamina, inability to concentrate for long periods of time.

To name a few:

ü  Seizure Disorder: epilepsy, or a physical condition when the brain changes suddenly and student shakes uncontrollably.

ü  Sickle Cell Disease: blood cell shape cannot carry oxygen to cells effectively: fatigue. 

ü  Asthma/Allergies: largest group, student generally feel unwell or tired. (only sever cases receive accommodations other student fall under 504)

ü  Chronic health impairments: sever burns, cancer, AIDS, Diabetes

Accommodations:

ü  Most Common: Helping student make up missed work.

Less rigid rules for participation, due dates etc..

ü  Emotional: find out student problems and help them find strategies by writing or drawing their struggles.

ü  Provide materials with featuring students with similar struggles: books, movie.

ü  Work with families!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Learning Strategies:

ü  Check knowledge through verbal responses.

ü  Marking or circling correct answers on worksheets works better than filling in blanks.

ü  Break tasks into small parts.

ü  Assistance with organization of materials and lesson (particularly those with AD/HD).

ü  Modification should only be made when necessary.

Student Support:

ü  Medical Services: Services provided by a professional physiciah, which determines the child’s medically related disability.

ü  School heath services/school nurse: Services provided by the school to ensure a student receives the medical services described in their IEP.

ü  Alternative school settings, Homebound instruction, Services provided by the hospital, Adaptive/assistive technology.

References:

ü  National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities:

Http://nichcy.org/disability/specific/ohi

ü  Project Ideal:

http://www.projectidealonline.org/healthImpairments.php

ü  National Association of Special Education Teachers:

http://www.naset.org/2278.0.html

ü  National Resource Center AD/HD:

http://help4adhd.org/

ü  CHADD of Utah:

http://www.chaddofutah.com/

ü  Including Students with Special Needs

Friend Marilyn, Bursuck William, Incuding students with special needs, (2012), 193-196.