Definition
According to Project IDEAL, orthopedic impairments include "Orthopedic impairment is defined as a severe orthopedic impairment that adversely affects a child's educational performance. The term includes impairments caused by congenital anomaly (e.g. clubfoot, absence of some member, etc.), impairments caused by disease (e.g. poliomyetlitis, bone tuberculosis, etc.), and impairments from other causes (e.g. cerebral palsy, amputations, and fractures or burns that cause contractures."
Characteristics
Characteristics of students with orthopedic impairments vary, but may include:
The four most common types of cerebral palsy include:
Muscular dystrophy produces progressive muscle weakness.
The four most common types of cerebral palsy include:
- Spastic (very tight muscles occurring in one or more muscle groups that result in stiff, uncoordinated movements)
- Athetoid (movements are contorted, abnormal, and purposeless)
- Ataxic (poor balance and equilibrium in addition to uncoordinated voluntary movement)
- Mixed (any combination of the types)
Muscular dystrophy produces progressive muscle weakness.
Accommodations
Accommodations for students with orthopedic impairments vary, but may include:
- Classrooms in accessible locations and a place for faculty to meet with the student
- Extra time to get from one classroom to another, especially in inclement weather
- Note takers, use of tape recorders, laptop word processors, or photocopying of notes from peers
- Test accommodations: extended time, separate "quiet" place, scribes, access to adaptive computer stations
- Special computer hardware/software; voice activated word processing, word prediction, keyboard modification, alternative mice
- Extra time for assignments due to slow writing speed
- Accessible parking close to buildings and/or tram services
- Course waiver or substitution for qualified students
- Special seating in classroom
- Advanced planning of field trips to ensure accessibility
- Adjustable tables and/lab work stations
Modifications
Modifications for students with orthopedic impairments vary, but may include:
- Modify lesson plans to include the use of assistive technology
- Allow students to respond by using alternative keyboards and mice
- Provide academic software and word prediction software
- Modify lesson plans to include various arrangements for transitions in the classroom
Resources
- Orthopedic Impairments
A compilation of many facts about orthopedic impairments, including a definition, characteristics, impact on learning, and specific strategies teachers can implement in their classrooms.
- Orthopedic Impairment
This website provides an in-depth definition of what orthopedic impairments include. This website also provides teachers with organizations that are connected to the specific impairment in order to do more research.
- Specific Disability Accommodations
This resource is designed to provide teachers with accommodations and tips/strategies to use with students who have orthopedic impairments. This would be a great resource for a gym teacher, as well.
- Common Factors of Students with Orthopedic Impairment
A resource designed to help teachers better understand a student with an orthopedic impairment. This website provides assistive technology devices to help these learners.
- Supporting Participation in Typical Classroom Activities for Students with Disabilities Through the Use of Accommodations, Modifications, and Assistive Technology Solutions
http://atto.buffalo.edu/registered/DecisionMaking/resourceroom-docs/GPATparticipation.pdf
A complete list of all IDEA disabilities with accommodations, modifications, and assistive technology that will help the student improve academically.