Physical and Health Disabilities

Current IssuesCollaborationCerebral Palsy

Practicum Placements

• Initial contacts• School environment• Educator attitudes• Unique needs• P/HD issues• Projects

Critical Issues in P/HD

• Current educational issues– Identification criteria– Entrance and exit criteria

• Collaboration– Role and responsibility– Other teachers– Support personnel

Educational Implications of Physical Impairments

• Limited physical strength and/or mobility causes difficulty with completion of tasks involving motor skills (fine and gross, visual motor, and motor planning)

• Accompanying neurological impairments may affect organization and work skills

Educational Implications of Physical Impairments

• Physical limitations,including impaired strength and endurance, cause difficulty managing tasks or materials in the classroom

• Combination of limited strength, endurance, and mobility may impact students ability to participate in academic tasks

Identification Criteria

• Medically diagnosed• Chronic condition• Physically impaired• Congenital or acquired condition• Adverse affect on physical or

academic function• Requires special education and

related services

Entrance/Exit Criteria

• Documentation of a medically diagnosed physical impairment

• Documentation of educational implications related to physical impairment– Lack of organization or work skills– Inability to manage motor-related classroom

tasks– Scores 1.0 standard deviations or more

below the mean on standardized achievement test

• Teacher licensed in the area of Physically Impaired must be part of the evaluation team

Educational Implications of Health Impairments

• Results in excessive absences– From school due to illness or

appointments– From classroom due to procedures or

therapies• Interferes in ability to manage

materials, transitions, and participation in physical and recreational activities

Educational Implications of Health Impairments

• Poor endurance causes difficulty completing written assignments and requires frequent rest breaks

• Fatigue level causes difficulty staying on task and completing assignments

• Level of pain or discomfort impacts overall participation

• Distractibility level interferes with attention in class, initiating tasks, and remaining on task

Identification Criteria

• Limited strength, endurance, vitality, or alertness

• Heightened or diminished alertness to environmental stimuli

• Medically diagnosed• Chronic or acute health conditions• Adverse affect on educational

performance• Requires special education and related

services

Entrance/Exit Criteria

• Documentation of health condition by a licensed physician

• Adverse affect on ability to complete educational tasks within timely manner, including three of the following:– Excessive absenteeism– Specialized healthcare procedures– Impact of medication– Limited physical strength and endurance– Level of alertness impacted– Impaired ability to manage or organize materials– Difficulty following directions or completing tasks

Collaboration/Consultation

• Indirect services– Progress reviews– Cooperative planning– Consultation– Demonstration teaching– Modifications and adaptations

• Environment• Curriculum• Materials and equipment

– Monitor and observe

Collaboration/Consultation

• Direct services– Provided by a teacher or related

service provider– Related to instruction– Cooperative learning– Need determined by IEP team– Based on student’s goals and

objectives

Roles and Responsibilities of P/HD Teacher

• Direct service provider when deemed necessary by IEP team

• Indirect service provider• Consultant to team members• Liaison between medical community

and educational setting• Advocate for unique needs of students

with physical and health impairments

Direct Service Providers

• May be other special education services providers– LD, EBD teachers - if educational needs are

primarily in learning or behavior– DCD teacher if students need require a

more functional approach– Specialist teachers if primary condition is in

other area - vision or D/HH teacher– Related service providers - therapists

providing mobility and accommodations or social worker providing family support

Support Personnel

• Classroom paraprofessional– Provided specific list of tasks that

may require assistance– Training required for unique needs of

physically or health impaired– Sensitivity to issues such as over-

reliance upon caregivers, health concerns, limited mobility, self-determination needs

Cerebral Palsy

• Definitions– Disorder of movement and posture– Non-progressive brain abnormality– Developmental disability– Affects physical development

• Movement• Muscle tone• Position in space

Time of Assault

• Prenatal– Brain malformation– Genetic syndrome– Infection– Anoxia

• Perinatal– Asphyxia– Infection

• Postnatal– Infection– TBI– Poison– Anoxia

Classifications

• Location– Diplegia– Hemiplegia– Quadriplegia

• Neuroanatomy– Area of the brain involved– Neurological or neurophysiological

dysfunction

Classifications

• Movement– Spastic– Dyskinesia– Ataxia– Mixed

• Function– Mild– Moderate– Severe

Associated Conditions

• Sensory impairments• Communication impairments• Orthopedic deformities• Nutrition needs• Cognitive dysfunction• Learning disabilities• Seizures

Treatment

• Therapeutic– Physical therapy– Occupational therapy

• Orthotics• Medication• Surgical

Developmental Impact

• Physical• Management

– Spasticity– Athetosis– Ataxia– Mixed

• Body mechanics• Communication• Social/emotional

Educational Impact

• Inclusion• Differences• Learning issues• Self-determination• Adult outcomes