Other Health Impairments

Other Health Impairment (OHI) was included as an eligibility category in the

Education for All Handicapped Children Act
(1975).
According to the 26th Annual Report (U.S. Department of Education, 2004),
449,093 students between the ages of 6 to 21 years of age were identified
as having other health impairments.
Some health impairments are congenital (present at birth) and other
conditions are acquired during the childs development as a result of
accident, illness or unknown cause.
One of the main considerations in the education of these students is the use
of the team approach in developing and carrying out a child's educational
program. The team generally includes the parents, teachers, medical
professionals, and health-related professionals such as a physical therapist.
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.
Without the appropriate supports, students with OHI may experience
long-term difficulties in academic, social, and emotional functioning.