Other Health Impairment
Definition
IDEA states that:
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, that--
(i) Is due to chronic or acute health problems such as asthma, attention deficit disorder or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, diabetes, epilepsy, a heart condition, hemophilia, lead poisoning, leukemia, nephritis, rheumatic fever, sickle cell anemia, and Tourette syndrome; and
(ii) Adversely affects a child’s educational performance. [§300.8(c)(9)]What’s immediately clear from this definition is that there are quite a few disabilities and disorders that fall under the umbrella of “other health impairment.” And those disabilities are very different from one another. This makes it difficult for us to summarize “other health impairment” and connect you with more information and guidance on the subject.
Retrieved from: https://www.parentcenterhub.org/ohi/
Characteristics
IDEA lists a number of different chronic health problems as possible reasons for the other health impairment label, including asthma, attention deficit disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, diabetes, epilepsy, cardiac conditions, hemophilia, leukemia, rheumatic fever, sickle cell anemia, and nephritis. It would be impossible to list all of the possible characteristics under such a large disability category. The primary issue in other health impairments, whatever the condition, the resulting symptoms could adversely impact the student's educational performance. If a child has diabetes, but it is controlled through medication and does not impact learning, special education services are not appropriate for that child.
Students with AD/HD are categorized according to their characteristics into three distinct subtypes: predominantly inattentive AD/HD, predominately hyperactive-impulsive AD/HD and combined type AD/HD.
Students with the predominately inattentive type of AD/HD will exhibit six or more of the following characteristics:
- Does not pay attention to detail and often makes mistakes across a number of activities
- Has difficulty maintaining attention during activities
- Does not complete schoolwork or other assigned activities
- Has difficulty with organization of activities
- Avoids activities that require mental effort or concentration
- Loses materials necessary to complete assignments
- Easily distracted
- Forgetful in many activities
- Fidgets or squirms in seat
- Gets up or leaves seat frequently during class
- Runs about or climbs when inappropriate, and is generally restless
- Difficulty in engaging in play activities quietly
- Talks excessively
- Blurts out answers
- Has difficulty waiting for their turn
- Interrupts others
Retrieved from: http://www.projectidealonline.org/v/health-impairments/
Accommodations and Modifications
Possible Accommodations and Services:
• Seat the student away from distractions and in close proximity to the teacher
• State classroom rules, post in an obvious location and enforce consistently
• Use simple, concise instructions with concrete steps
• Provide seating options
• Tolerate (understand the need) excessive movement
• Provide a peer tutor/helper
• Teach compensatory strategies
• Train for proper dispensing of medications; monitor and/or distribute medications; monitor for side effects
• Monitor for stress and fatigue; adjust activities
• Adjust assignments to match attention span, etc.
• Provide supervision during transitions, disruptions, field trips
• Model the use of study guides, organizing tools
• Accommodate testing procedures; lengthy tests might be broken down into several shorter administrations • Provide prompt feedback on both successes and areas needing improvement
• Initiate frequent parent communication
• Establish a school/home behavior management program
• Provide training for staff
• Have the student use an organizer; train in organizational skills
• Establish a nonverbal cue between teacher and student for behavior monitoring
• Assign chores/duties around room/school
• Adapt environment to avoid distractions
• Reinforce appropriate behavior
• Have child work alone or in a study carrel during high stress times
• Highlight required or important information/directions
• Provide a checklist for student, parents, and/or teacher to record assignments of completed tasks
• Use a timer to assist student to focus on given task or number of problems in time allotted. Stress that problems need to be correctly done • Have student restate or write directions/instructions
• Allow student to respond in variety of different modes (i.e. may place answers for tests on tape instead of paper)
• Give student opportunity to stand/move while working
• Provide additional supervision to and from school
• Adapt student's work area to help screen out distracting stimuli
• Grade for content integrity, and not just neatness/presentation
• Schedule subjects which require greater concentration early in the day
• Supply small rewards to promote behavior change
• Avoid withholding physical activity as a negative reinforcer
• Allow for periodic, frequent physical activity, exercise, etc.
• Determine trigger points and prevent action leading to trigger points
• Provide for socialization opportunities, such as circle of friends
Retrieved from: Section 504 Sample Accommodations and Modifications http://www.warmlinefrc.org/uploads/5/9/5/8/5958794/section_504_accomodations.pdf
Resources
Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), Other Health Impairment Disability Fact Sheet https://www.isbe.net/Documents/other-health-impairment.pdf
Center for Parent Information and Resources
What you will find on the Parent Center Hub:
- Family-friendly information and research-based materials on key topics for Parent Centers
- Private workspaces for Parent Centers to exchange resources, discuss high-priority topics, and solve mutual challenges
- Coordination of parent training efforts throughout the network
- A twice-monthly e-newsletter with key topics, new resources, upcoming events, and materials to share with families
- Materials from Parent Centers themselves
Project IDEAL (Informing and Designing Education for All Learners) is a project of the Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities. This site includes teaching modules, videos, articles, and activities as part of a teacher preparation program intended to better prepare teachers to work with students with disabilities.
Webpage: Other Health Impairment http://www.projectidealonline.org/v/health-impairments/
SpecialEducationGuide.com is a resource for parents and educators with articles explaining terminology, procedures and best practices in special education. Topics covered include early intervention to ISFPs; IEPs and RTI, inclusion, classroom and behavior management; disability profiles for each category under IDEA and a Special Education Dictionary to master “SPED” jargon. Article: Other Health Impairment https://www.specialeducationguide.com/disability-profiles/other-health-impairment/
The National Association of Special Education Teachers (NASET) is a national membership organization dedicated to rendering all possible support and assistance to those preparing for or teaching in the field of special education. NASET was founded to promote the profession of special education teachers and to provide a national forum for their ideas. Article: Comprehensive Overview of Other Health Impairments https://www.naset.org/index.php?id=2278
Video: The IDEA's Special Education Categories: Other Health Impairment https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2C8KxGCfTw