Physical Disabilities – refer to

impairments or temporary that:

Affect the bones and muscle systems
and make mobility and manual
dexterity difficult and / or impossible.
- Cause deformities and or absence
of body organs and systems
necessary for mobility and affect
the nervous system making
mobility awkward and
uncoordinated.

ORTHOPEDIC AND NEUROLOGICAL

IMPAIRMENTS
The two distinct and separate
types of physical disabilities are
orthopedic impairments and
neurological impairments.

Orthopedic impairment – affects

the bones, joints, limbs, and
associated muscles of the skeletal
system

Examples of Orthopedic
impairments:

1. Poliomyelitis – also known as

infantile paralysis
2. Osteomyelitis – tuberculosis of
the bones and spines
inflammation or swelling that
occurs in the bone. Osteomyelitis
is more common in younger
children (five and under) but can
happen at any age.

3. Bone fracture – or breakage in

the continuity of the bone results
from falls and accidents

4. Muscular Dystrophy – a group of

long-term diseases that
progressively weakens,
deteriorates, and wastes away the
muscles of the body. The disease is
usually fatal. The infant appears
normal at birth and the muscles
begin to waken at 2-6 years old.
The calf muscles appear unusually
large because the degenerated
muscle has been replaced by the
fatty tissue. The child walks with an
unusual gait, a protruding stomach
and a hollow back. He or she has
trouble in running of climbing
stairs getting to his feet after lying
down or sitting on the floor and
may fall easily.
By age 10-14, the child loses the
ability to walk. The small muscles
of the hands and fingers are
usually the last to weaken and
deteriorate.

5. Osteogenesis imperfecta – is a
rare inherited condition marked by
extremely brittle bones. The
skeletal system does not grow
normally, and the bones are easily
fractured. As the child matures the
bones may become less brittle and
require less attention
The child with osteogenesis
imperfecta is fragile and may be
able to walk for short distances
with the aid of braces, crutches,
and protective equipment.

6. Limb deficiency – refers to the

absence of partial loss of an arm or
leg

PLEGIA – (Greek word) meaning

“to strike” is used in combination
with the affected limb, that is, arm
or leg, to describe the condition.
 Quadriplegia – all for (Quadri)
limbs, both arms and legs, are
affected. Movement of the truk
may be also impaired
 Paraplegia – Motor impairment
of the legs only
 Hemiplegia – only one (hemi)
side of the body is affected
ex: the left arm and the left leg
may be impaired.
 Diplegia – major involvement of
the legs with less severe
involvement of the arms
 Monoplegia – only one (mono)
limb is affected
 Triplegia – Three limbs are
affected
 Double hemiplegia – major
involvement of the arms with
less severed involvement of the
legs
 Orthopedic and neurological
impairments have close
relationship
For example, a child who is
unable to move his legs due to
damage in the central nervous
system may also develop
disorders in the bones and
muscles.
An infant may be born with a
congenital limb deficiency.
Acquired limb deficiency results
from the amputation of the
arms or legs due to diseases or
accidents that require surgery

A prosthesis or artificial limb is

often used to replace the limbs
to facilitate balance and to
create more normal
appearance. Braces, crutches
and wheelchairs are used
whenever applicable.
 7. Crippling conditions – that
are congenital or present at
birth include
 Clubfoot – the child is born with
one or both feet deformed
usually with the feet and toes
turned inward, outward or
upward often accompanied by
webbed toes.
 Clubhand – the same as
clubfoot but this time the hands
and fingers are deformed
 Polydactylism – the child is born
with extra toes or fingers
  Syndactylism – the fingers or
toes or both are webbed like
those of ducks and hens.

Neurological impairment – involves

the nervous system and affects the
ability to move, use, feel or control
certain parts of the body. Some of the
types of neurological impairment:
JASON DE LOS REYES – paraplegic who
does wonders through his creative
inclination in visual arts
He exists as a living proof against the
conventional conception of the
disabled as unproductive and
dependent.
Cerebral Palsy
- Characterized by disturbances of
voluntary motor functions that
may include paralysis, extreme
weakness, lack of coordination,
involuntary convulsions, and other
motor disorders. It is a long-term
condition resulting to the brain or
an abnormality of the brain
growth. It can be treated but not
cured. It is not fatal; the
impairment does not get worse as
the child ages. It is not contagious
and in most cases not inherited.
 The causes are varied and not
clearly known. It has often been
attributed to the occurrence of
injuries, accidents or illnesses that
are prenatal (before birth) ,
prenatal (at or near the time of
birth) or postnatal (soon after
birth).
- The children with cerebral palsy
have little or no control over the
arms, legs, or speech depending on
the type of degree of impairment.
They may have impaired vision or
hearing. Perceptual and sensory
difficulties, learning difficulties and
intellectual impairments may
 accompany cerebral palsy. Specific
types are as follows:
- 1. Hypertonia – commonly called
spasticity
o Characterized by tense,
contracted muscles and the
movements may be jerky,
exaggerated and poorly
coordinated. Deformities of the
spine, hip, dislocation and
contractures of the hand, elbow
foot and knee are common. The
result in the inability to grasp
objects with the fingers and if
able to walk, it may be with a
scissors gait, standing on toes
 with kenes bent and pointed
inward.
2. Hypotonia – or weak floppy
muscles particularly in the neck
and trunk. The child with
hypotonia has low level of motor
activity, slow to make balancing
responses and may not walk until
30 months of age.
3. Athetosis – a condition
characterized by slow, worm–like
involuntary uncontrollable and
purposeless movements. A child
with this condition may not be
able to control the muscles of the
tongue, and throat and may drool
so there is difficulty in expressive
oral language. He /she seems to
stumble and lurch awkwardly
when walking, at times the
muscles may be tense and rigid or
loose and flaccid and has serious
problems in mobility and in doing
activity in daily living.
4. Ataxia – disturbance of balance
and equilibrium resulting in a gait
like that of a drunken person
when walking and may fall easily
if not supported.
5. Rigidity – It is characterized by
the marked resistance of the
muscles for passive motion and
display extreme stiffness n the
affected limbs
6. Tremor -marked by rhythmic,
uncontrollable movements of
trembling of the body or limbs
7, Mixed type – characterized by
the presence of traits mentioned
in the proceeding categories

SPINA BIFIDA
-Spina bifida congenital defect
in the vertebrae that encloses
tha spinal cord. The portion of
the spinal cord and the nerves
that normally control muscles
 and feeling in the lower part of
the back fail to develop
normally

About 80% to 90% of children

born with spina bifida develop
hydrocephalus, the
accumulation of cerebrospinal
fluid in tissues surrounding the
brain. This could lead to head
enlargement and sever brain
damage

SPINAL CORD INJURIES

- Spinal cord injuries are results of
accidents. Injury to the spinal
 column is generally described by
letters and numbers indicating the
size of the damage.
- - paralysis and loss of sensation
occur below the injury. The higher
the injury on the spine and the
more injury cut through the entire
cord, the greater thethe paralysis
TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY
- Commonly caused by injuries to
the head as a result from
automobile, motorcycle, and
bicycle accidents, falls, assaults,
gunshots , wounds and child abuse
- SEVERE HEAD TRAMA – causes
coma or abnormal deep stupor
 from which it may be impossible to
arouse the affected individual by
external stimuli for an extended
period
- Temporary or lasting symptoms
may include cognitive and
language deficits, memory loss,
seizures and perceptual disorders
- Children may also have difficulty in
paying attention and may display
inappropriate or exaggerated
behavior ranging from extreme
aggressive ness to apathy
HEALTH IMPARIEMENTS
 - Due to chronic or acute health
problems that adversely affect
educational performance.
- -. Children with these health
problems are not usually confined
in hospitals except during attacks
of flare-ups of their diseases.
- - in many instances health
impairments could result to poor
school performance and social
acceptance and their effects to the
child is great and this is why
teachers need to be aware of these
problems
CHRONIC ILLNESSES AND OTHER
HEALTH RELATED CONDITIONS
Asthma – chronic lung disease
characterized by episodic bouts of
wheezing and coughing, and difficulty
in breathing due to the inflammation
of the airways in the lungs.
Usually triggered by allergens 9certain
foods, pets, pollen) irritants among
smog, cigarette, exercise or emotional
stress
The child may experience only a
period of mild coughing or extreme
difficulty in breathing that requires
emergency treatment
DIABETES – disorder or metabolism
that affects the way the body absorbs
and breaks down sugars and digestion
in food
Children with diabetes have
insufficient insulin, a hormone
normally produced by the pancreas
necessary for proper metabolism and
digestion of food
- Thirst, headaches, weight loss,
frequent urination, and cuts that
slow to heal.
- The child lacks energy and
important parts of the body
particularly the eyes and the
kidneys can be affected by
untreated diabetes
- EPILEPSY – a convulsive disorder
commonly known as seizure,
disturbance of movement,
sensation behavior and
consciousness cause my abnormal
electrical activity in the brain
- Many children experience as
warning sensation kwon as aura, a
short sensation before seizures -
The aura takes different forms in
people – distinctive feelings,
sights , sounds, taste and smells
- HEMOPHILIA – a rare hereditary
disorder with the blood does not
clot as quickly as it should
EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT FOR
LEARNERS WITH DISABILITIES
- Students with physical disabilities,
and health impairments need an
interdisciplinary team composed
Of:
- special and regular teachers.
- School l administrators
- Parents
- physical and occupational
therapists
- Medical personnel
- Specials
- Psychology
- guidance counselors
The team addresses the medical
educational therapeutic, vocational
and social needs of the children.
PHYSICAL THERAPIST – concern with
the planning and implementation of
program to develop and maintain
correct bodily posture and mobility
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST – focuses
on the child’s participation in activities
that are useful in self care
communication recreation
employment and other living skills
- Specific training is given to motor
behaviors like drinking, buttoning
 clothes types shoes pouring liquids
and other adaptive skills
SPEECH THERAPIST – deals with
remediation of all forms of speech
voice hearing and language problems
cause by physical, mental or
psychological disorders
PHYSICAL NURSES AND SPECIALISTS –
appraise the current health status and
the disability itself, provide treatment
and recommend therapy services
when needed.
PROSTHESIS – designs and fits
artificial limbs
Orthotic – designs and fits braces and
other assistive device
Biomedical engineer- develops adapts
assistive technology
Social worker- assists students and
families in their adjustment to the
disabilities