Other Health Impairments Redux

Other Health Impairments: Danielle Hillas, Patrick Gardner

Definition:

• 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:

• 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:

• Seizure Disorder: epilepsy, or a physical condition when the brain changes suddenly and student shakes uncontrollably.
• Sickle Cell Disease: blood cell shape cannot carry oxygen to cells effectively: fatigue.
• Asthma/Allergies: largest group, student generally feel unwell or tired. (only sever cases receive accommodations other student fall under 504)
• Chronic health impairments: sever burns, cancer, AIDS, Diabetes

Accommodations:

• Most Common: Helping student make up missed work.

Less rigid rules for participation, due dates etc..

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

• Provide materials with featuring students with similar struggles: books, movie.
• Work with families!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Learning Strategies:

• Check knowledge through verbal responses.

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

• Break tasks into small parts.

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

• Modification should only be made when necessary.

Student Support:

• Medical Services: Services provided by a professional physiciah, which determines the child’s medically related disability.
• School heath services/school nurse: Services provided by the school to ensure a student receives the medical services described in their IEP.
• Alternative school settings, Homebound instruction, Services provided by the hospital, Adaptive/assistive technology.

References:

• National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities:

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

• Project Ideal:

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

• National Association of Special Education Teachers:

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

• National Resource Center AD/HD:

http://help4adhd.org/

• CHADD of Utah:

http://www.chaddofutah.com/

• Including Students with Special Needs

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