Physical and Health Disabilities Under IDEA

Orthopedic Impairment

• Defined as a severe orthopedic impairment that adversely affects a child's educational performance.
• Requires a medical diagnosis and evidence of limitations in one or more educational areas.

Other Health Impairment (OHI)

• A condition that affects a child’s educational performance but is not specifically listed in other disability categories.
• Asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, and sickle cell anemia qualify as OHI.
• Requires a medical diagnosis and evidence of educational limitations.

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

• Includes an acquired injury to the brain caused by an external physical force.
• Can affect cognitive, physical, emotional, social, and academic performance.
• Does not include brain injury caused by congenital malformations, birth injuries, or degenerative diseases.

Cerebral Palsy

• Primarily affects movement, posture, and coordination.
• Caused by brain damage before, during, or shortly after birth.
• Spina bifida occulta, where the spinal cord protrudes through the back, is a type of spina bifida.
• Dyskinetic cerebral palsy is characterized by uncontrolled movements, tremors, and difficulty coordinating movement.

Muscular Dystrophies

• Group of inherited genetic disorders that cause progressive weakness and degeneration of muscles.
• Can be diagnosed during pregnancy.
• Duchenne muscular dystrophy primarily affects the hips, legs, and shoulders first.

Spina Bifida

• Often diagnosed before birth.
• Individuals with spina bifida occulta typically have a normal spinal cord and no symptoms.
• Cerebral palsy is a neurological disorder, not a type of spina bifida.

Muscular Dystrophy Causes

• Caused by mutations in genes that produce proteins important for muscle function.

Cerebral Palsy Characteristics

• Classified as a neurological disorder.
• Spastic cerebral palsy is characterized by tight, stiff muscles.

Spina Bifida Effects

• One possible effect of spina bifida is a need for assistive devices to walk, stand, or move.

Muscular Dystrophy:

• A hallmark sign is progressive muscle weakness.
• Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy is typically inherited in an X-linked recessive pattern.

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)

• Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EHA) was renamed the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in 1990.
• EHA mandated that all children with disabilities receive a free and appropriate public education.
• Children with disabilities were previously often excluded from mainstream education, facing limited opportunities.

Unique Aspects of Physical and Health Disabilities

• Historically, physical and health disabilities were seen as differences that could be overcome or hidden. This limited opportunities for these students.
• The University of Illinois Disability Services program was a pioneering effort to integrate students with disabilities into higher education.

Disability Categories Over Time

• The disability categories used in special education have changed over time to reflect evolving understanding and needs.

Saul Morse

• Saul Morse was a student with a disability who was initially denied admission to the University of Illinois but was eventually admitted as part of a student advocacy effort.

Other Health Impairment:

• NOT included under OHI are conditions that are primarily psychological or emotional, unless they also affect a child’s educational performance.

Epilepsy

• Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that involves abnormal electrical activity in the brain.
• Generalized Seizures are a type of seizure that affects the whole brain.
• Tonic-clonic seizures are characterized by stiffening muscles and then rhythmic jerking.
• Absence Seizures typically last for a few seconds and have no apparent symptoms.

Asthma

• Asthma is a lung condition that causes inflammation and narrowing of the airways.
• Physical activity may trigger asthma episodes.

Cystic Fibrosis

• Cystic Fibrosis is a genetic disorder that affects the lungs, digestive system, and other organs.
• Cystic Fibrosis mainly affects mucus secretions in the lungs and digestive tract.

Diabetes

• Diabetes is a chronic health condition characterized by high blood sugar levels.
• Hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) can have adverse effects on the body.

Tonic-Clonic Seizures:

• Commonly involve stiffening of muscles and rhythmic jerking movements.

Focal Seizures:

• These seizures involves no loss of consciousness, and might include motor, sensory, or emotional symptoms.

Asthma Severity:

• Severe asthma can lead to life-threatening asthma attacks.

Diabetes Complications:

• Potential complications of living with diabetes can include cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, and vision loss.

Epilepsy:

• A major risk factor for epilepsy is genetics.

Emergency During Tonic-Clonic Seizure:

• During a tonic-clonic seizure, ensure the person is safe from injury.

Clonic Seizures:

• Clonic seizures are characterized by rhythmic jerking movements.

Types of Generalized Seizures:

• Myoclonic seizures are brief, involuntary muscle jerks

Diabetes Symptoms:

• Frequent urination, excessive thirst, and unexplained weight loss are symptoms of diabetes.

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI):

• A concussion is a type of TBI that does not always result in immediate signs or symptoms.
• Long-term risks associated with moderate to severe TBI can include cognitive difficulties, behavioral issues, and physical limitations.
• Diabetes may be triggered by a combination of genetics and lifestyle factors.
• Infants and young children may exhibit behavioral changes like difficulty feeding, decreased alertness, and changes in sleep patterns, indicating potential TBI.

Other Health Impairment:

• Children with an Other Health Impairment make up approximately 12% of students receiving special education services.
• Medical procedures like ultrasounds and amniocentesis can be used to identify physical and health disabilities before birth.

Cognitive Symptoms of TBI:

• Cognitive symptoms of TBI can include problems with memory, attention, concentration, and processing speed.

TBI Severity:

• Headaches are a common symptom of mild TBI.
• Loss of consciousness for more than 30 minutes, post-traumatic seizures, and persistent vomiting are indicators of a more severe TBI.

TBI Statistics:

• About 1% of the population lives with a TBI.

Mild TBI Symptoms:

• Memory problems are NOT associated with a mild TBI.
• Environmental factors like obesity and lack of physical activity can increase the risk of developing diabetes.

TBI and Behavior Changes:

• Behavioral changes such as aggression, impulsivity, and mood swings can be indicative of TBI complications.