Other Health Impairments
According to IDEA, "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.
This definition covers a variety of impairments that differ widely. They include:
There are other conditions, which are not specifically listed in IDEA, that children may have which would allow the child to qualify for Special Education under Other Health Impairments. Simply, if a child has limited strength, vitality, or alertness due to chronic health problems and his/her educational performance is negatively affected as a result they may qualify.
When a child qualifies for an OHI diagnosis, some related services will come with the diagnosis. These include medical services, school health services and school nurse services. Children may need special feedings, cleanings, and/or dispensing of medicine while in the educational atmosphere.
(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.
This definition covers a variety of impairments that differ widely. They include:
- ADD/ADHD
- Diabetes
- Epilepsy
- Heart
Conditions - Hemophilia
- Lead
Poisoning - Leukemia
- Nephritis
- Rheumatic
Fever - Sickle Cell Anemia
- Tourette Syndrome
There are other conditions, which are not specifically listed in IDEA, that children may have which would allow the child to qualify for Special Education under Other Health Impairments. Simply, if a child has limited strength, vitality, or alertness due to chronic health problems and his/her educational performance is negatively affected as a result they may qualify.
When a child qualifies for an OHI diagnosis, some related services will come with the diagnosis. These include medical services, school health services and school nurse services. Children may need special feedings, cleanings, and/or dispensing of medicine while in the educational atmosphere.
resources
Here is an online quiz available to complete and see if your child/student may have an attention disorder:
http://psychcentral.com/addquiz.htm
A student made documentary about her struggle with diabetes. Watch to help understand your students with Diabetes:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DmIBKWMaDc
http://psychcentral.com/addquiz.htm
A student made documentary about her struggle with diabetes. Watch to help understand your students with Diabetes:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DmIBKWMaDc
documents
This publication from the National Dissemination Center for Children with disabilities is a Fact Sheet on Other Health Impairments. It gives definitions, clarifications and strategies.
http://nichcy.org/wp-content/uploads/docs/fs15.pdf
This puclication details the eligibility requirements for getting an OHI diagnosis.
http://sogpubs.unc.edu//electronicversions/slb/slbsum02/article2.pdf?
http://nichcy.org/wp-content/uploads/docs/fs15.pdf
This puclication details the eligibility requirements for getting an OHI diagnosis.
http://sogpubs.unc.edu//electronicversions/slb/slbsum02/article2.pdf?
strategies
The key to helping your child is getting them the appropriate help at school. After getting their diagnosis and obtaining their Special Education status you may be left wondering what else you need to do. Here is an invaluable resource for parents of children with OHI. This article details exactly what you need to inform the school. It is titled: My child has a chronic health condition. What do I need to tell the school?
http://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/chronic/pages/Chronic-Conditions-and-School.aspx
Here is an amazing document with Instructional Strategies for teachers (and parents, too!) for specific OHIs.
http://cms.springbranchisd.com/Portals/35/lessonplans/STRATEGIES-DISABILITIES.pdf
http://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/chronic/pages/Chronic-Conditions-and-School.aspx
Here is an amazing document with Instructional Strategies for teachers (and parents, too!) for specific OHIs.
http://cms.springbranchisd.com/Portals/35/lessonplans/STRATEGIES-DISABILITIES.pdf