Characteristic of Students with Pysical Disabilities

The following section describethe characteristics of the most common neurological impairments, neomuscular diseases, and health impairments. 

Cerebral Palsy

Students with cerebral palsy are one of the largest groups of children with physical disabilities (Heward, 1996). Cerebral palsy is caused by damage to the brain before or during birth. Condition are classified according to the areas affected and the types of symptoms. The degree of severity varies and is often evidenced by lack coordination, speech disorders, motor problems, and extreme weakness. Cerebral palsy generally has accompanying problems insuch areas as learning, vision, hearing, cognitive functioning, and social-emotional growth (Meyen & Skrtic, 1995). The condition can interfere with head control, arm use, sitting positions, balance, posture, and mobility, and these problems can be exacerbatedby fatigue and stess.

Spina Bifida

A birth defect that occurs when the spinal cord fails to close properly, often causes paralysis of parts of the body but seldom affects intellectual functioning. Most students with spina bifida walk with difficulty and lack complete bladder and bowed control. Some students need to use a catheter, which necessitates training in hygiene and extra time during the day to take care of the catheter. Generally, the school nurse or a special education teacher provides this training if it has not already been provided.

Epelepsy

The most common neurological impairments in school-age children is convulsive disorders or epilepsy. Epilepsyis cgharacterized by tendency to have recurrent seizures-sudden, excessive, spontaneous, and abnormal discharges or neurons accompanied by alternation in motor function, senory function, or consciousness (Coulter, 1993).

There are three major types of seizures. Absence seizures(petit mal) are characterized by short lapses inconsciousness. Students may appear inattentive and often do not realize that they are having seizures. Tonic-clonic seizures(grand mal) are characterized by convulsions followed by loss of consciousness. usually  a tonic phase, in which the arms and legs jerk. Often the students loses conciousness ang awakens disoriented and tired.

Muscular Dystrophy

Muscular Dystrophy is a chronic disorder characterized by the weakening and wasting of the body’s muscles. Persons with muscular dystrophy progessively lose their ability towalk and effectively use their arms and hands (Brooke,1986). There is no cure for muscular distrophy at this time, and the only preventation is generic counseling (the condition appears to run in families).

Source:

Vaughn, S., Bos, C., & Schumm, J.S. 2000. Teaching Exeptional, Diverse,and At Risk Students in the General Education Class Room. MA: a Perason Education Company.