NAME: RIBCA MARIAM

CMS: 17961

SUBJECT: COMMUNITY BASED REHABILITATION

SUBMITTED TO: MA'AM MEHWISH

Prevailing disabilities in our community.

A disability is any continuing condition that restricts everyday activities. The Disability Services
Act (1993) defines 'disability' as meaning a disability: which is attributable to an intellectual,
psychiatric, cognitive, neurological, sensory or physical impairment or a combination of those
impairments.

Types of prevailing disabilities:

i. vision Impairment

ii. deaf or hard of hearing

iii. mental health conditions

iv. intellectual disability

v. acquired brain injury

vi. autism spectrum disorder

vii. Physical disability

viii. Guillain-Barre syndrome

ix. Poliomyelitis

x. Osteogenesis imperfecta

xi. Cerebral atrophy

Vision impairment:

Vision impairment refers to people who are blind or who have partial vision.
Deaf or hard of hearing:

Hearing impairments can range from mild to profound. People who are hard of hearing may use
a range of strategies and equipment including speech, lip-reading, writing notes, hearing aids or
sign language interpreters.

Mental health conditions:

Mental illness is a general term for a group of illnesses that affect the mind or brain. These
illnesses, which include bipolar disorder, depression, schizophrenia, anxiety and personality
disorders, affect the way a person thinks, feels and acts.

A person with a mental health condition may experience difficulty concentrating, which can
sometimes be a result of medication. Try to avoid overly stressful situations wherever possible so
that their condition is not exacerbated.

Intellectual disability:

A person with an intellectual disability may have significant limitations in the skills needed to
live and work in the community, including difficulties with communication, self-care, social
skills, safety and self-direction.

Acquired brain injury (ABI):

Acquired brain injury (ABI) refers to any type of brain damage that occurs after birth. The injury
may occur because of infection, disease, lack of oxygen or a trauma to the head. Around 160,000
Australians have some form of acquired brain injury, with more men affected than women.

The long term effects are different for each person and can range from mild to profound. It is
common for many people with ABI to experience:

• increased fatigue (mental and physical)

• some slowing down in the speed with which they process information, plan and solve
problems

• changes to their behaviour and personality, physical and sensory abilities, or thinking and
learning

• may also have difficulty in areas such as memory, concentration and communication.

• A person with an Acquired Brain Injury does not have an intellectual disability and does
not have a mental illness.

Autism Spectrum Disorder:

Autism is an umbrella description which includes Autistic disorder, Asperger's syndrome and
atypical autism. Autism affects the way information is taken in and stored in the brain. People
with autism typically have difficulties in verbal and non-verbal communication, social
interactions and other activities. Impairments usually exist across three main areas of
functioning:

• social interaction

• communication, and

• behaviour (restricted interests and repetitive behaviours).

Many people with an autism spectrum disorder also have sensory sensitivities, i.e. over or under
sensitivity to sight, touch, taste, smell, sound, temperature or pain.

Some characteristics of Asperger's syndrome

Those with Asperger's syndrome are typically of average or above average intelligence, and can
show a wide range of behaviours and social skills. People with Asperger's syndrome may display
some of the following characteristics:

• difficulty in forming friendships

• ability to talk well, either too much or too little, but difficulty with communication

• inability to understand that communication involves listening as well as talking

• a very literal understanding of what has been said. For example, when asked to 'get lost',
as in go away, a person with Asperger's syndrome will be confused and may literally try
to 'get lost'

• inability to understand the rules of social behaviour, the feelings of others and to 'read'
body language. For example, a person with Asperger's syndrome may not know that
someone is showing that they are cross when frowning

• sensitivity to criticism

• a narrow field of interests. For example a person with Asperger's syndrome may focus on
learning all there is to know about cars, trains or computers

• eccentricity.

Physical disability:

The common characteristic in physical disability is that some aspect of a person's physical
functioning, usually either their mobility, dexterity, or stamina, is affected. People with physical
disability are usually experts in their own needs, and will understand the impact of their
disability.

There are many different kinds of disability and a wide variety of situations people experience.
The disability may be permanent or temporary. It may exist from birth or be acquired later in
life. People with the same disability are as likely as anyone else to have different abilities.

Guillain-Barre syndrome :

Guillain-Barre syndrome is a rare disorder in which your body's immune system attacks your
nerves. Weakness and tingling in your extremities are usually the first symptoms.

These sensations can quickly spread, eventually paralyzing your whole body. In its most severe
form Guillain-Barre syndrome is a medical emergency. Most people with the condition must be
hospitalized to receive treatment.

The exact cause of Guillain-Barre syndrome is unknown. But it is often preceded by an

infectious illness such as a respiratory infection or the stomach flu.

There's no known cure for Guillain-Barre syndrome, but several treatments can ease symptoms
and reduce the duration of the illness. Most people recover from Guillain-Barre syndrome,
though some may experience lingering effects from it, such as weakness, numbness or fatigue.

Symptoms:

Guillain-Barre syndrome often begins with tingling and weakness starting in your feet and legs
and spreading to your upper body and arms. In about half of people with the disorder, symptoms
begin in the arms or face. As Guillain-Barre syndrome progresses, muscle weakness can evolve
into paralysis.

Signs and symptoms of Guillain-Barre syndrome may include:

• Prickling, pins and needles sensations in your fingers, toes, ankles or wrists

• Weakness in your legs that spreads to your upper body

• Unsteady walking or inability to walk or climb stairs

• Difficulty with eye or facial movements, including speaking, chewing or swallowing

• Severe pain that may feel achy or cramplike and may be worse at night

• Difficulty with bladder control or bowel function

• Rapid heart rate

• Low or high blood pressure

 • Difficulty breathing

• People with Guillain-Barre syndrome usually experience their most significant weakness
within two to four weeks after symptoms begin.

Poliomyelitis:

Poliomyelitis, or simply Polio, is a highly contagious infectious disease caused by three types of
poliovirus. The poliovirus is a virus that destroys nervous system causing paralysis.

Types of poliomyelitis:

Abortive poliomyelitis: The mildest form.

Nonparalytic poliomyelitis: Symptoms are more severe than abortive, but not as bad as
paralytic.

Paralytic poliomyelitis:The most severe; may result in permanent paralysis of certain muscle
groups, including breathing muscles and leg muscles.

What causes poliomyelitis?

The poliovirus spreads most often from fecal-oral contact. Usually, this occurs from poor hand
washing or from consuming of contaminated food or water. Sneezing or coughing also spreads
the virus. Your child is most contagious immediately before any symptoms show up and soon
after they appear.

What are the symptoms of poliomyelitis?

About 90 to 95 percent of people who do get infected with polio have no symptoms at all. Of
those who do get the infection, 2 percent or fewer may develop paralytic disease. Symptoms may
vary depending on the kind of polio and vary child-to-child.

The most common include

For abortive poliomyelitis:

• fever (up to 103º F)

• decreased appetite

• nausea and/or vomiting

• sore throat

• not feeling well

 • constipation

• abdominal pain

For nonparalytic poliomyelitis:

• headache, nausea and vomiting may be worse

• child may feel sick for a couple of days, then appear to improve before getting sick again

• pain of the muscles in the neck, trunk, arms, and legs

• stiffness in the neck and along the spine

For paralytic poliomyelitis:

• the symptoms of nonparalytic and abortive poliomyelitis

• muscle weakness all over

• severe constipation

• muscle wasting

• weakened breathing

• difficulty swallowing

• weak cough

• flushed or blotchy skin

• hoarse voice

• bladder paralysis

• muscle paralysis

Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI):

Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) or Brittle Bone Disease is a complicated, variable and rare
disorder. Its major feature is a fragile skeleton, but many other body systems are also affected.
OI is caused by a mutation (change) in a gene that affects bone formation, bone strength and the
structure of other tissues. It is a life-long disorder.

People with OI experience frequent broken bones from infancy through puberty. The frequency
typically decreases in the young adult years but may increase again later in life. Respiratory
problems including asthma are often seen. Other medical characteristics and issues include:
 • Bone deformity, and bone pain.

• Short stature.

• Spine curves.

• Low Bone Density.

• Loose joints, ligament laxity and muscle weakness are common.

• Distinctive features of the skull including late closing fontanels, and head circumference
greater than average.

• Hearing loss may begin in the early 20s and by middle age is present in more than 50% of
people with OI.

• Brittle teeth (called dentinogenesis imperfecta or DI) are seen in 50% of people who have
OI

• Respiratory problems including asthma; may be aggravated by chest wall deformity

and/or spine deformity.

• Vision problems including myopia and risk for retinal detachment

• Skin hyperlaxity; easy bruising.

• Cardiac issues.

• Fatigue.

• Basilar Invagination a serious neurological problem is seen in some people with the more
severe forms of OI.

• Skin, blood vessels and internal organs may be fragile.

OI exhibits wide variation in appearance and severity. Severity is described as mild, moderate,
or severe. The most severe forms lead to early death.

Clinical features (observable signs) such as fracture frequency, muscle strength or extraskeletal
problems vary widely not only between types, but within types, and even within the same family.
Some features are age dependent.

Types of OI:

Type I OI:
People with Type I OI, the mildest and most common form, may have only a handful of fractures
or as many as several dozen fractures in a lifetime. They may have few obvious signs of the
disorder. There usually is little or no bone deformity. Height is less affected than in other types
of OI. People with Type I OI are often similar in height to other family members. Muscle
weakness, joint laxity and flat feet are common. Dislocations and sprains may occur as well as
fractures. Life expectancy appears to be average.

Type II OI:

Type II OI is the most severe form. Infants are quite small and are usually born with multiple
fractures, an unusually soft skull and an unstable neck. Limbs may be disproportionately small
and legs may fall into a frog-like position. The head may be large for the size of the body.
Almost all infants with Type II OI die at or shortly after birth, often due to respiratory problems.
In the newborn period, it can be difficult to distinguish between Type II and severe Type III OI.
This means that some children diagnosed clinically as Type II at birth may actually have Type III
OI and have a longer life expectancy.

Type III OI:

People with Type III OI are born with fractures. X-rays may reveal healed fractures that occurred
before birth. Common signs include short stature, progressive long bone deformities, spinal
curvature, and a barrel-shaped rib cage. People with Type III OI may have anywhere from
several dozen to several hundred fractures in a lifetime. Surgical correction of long bone bowing
and scoliosis is common. Life expectancy varies. Some people with Type III OI have severe,
sometimes fatal, respiratory problems in infancy or childhood. Some children and adults with
severe Type III OI may require supplemental oxygen. Some individuals succumb to respiratory
problems in adulthood due to progressive rib cage and spine deformities. Other people with Type
III OI will have a near-average life span.

Type IV OI:

Type IV OI is the moderate type of OI. The clinical picture can be similar to Type I OI or more
like Type III OI. People with this form of OI may be somewhat shorter than others in their
family, have frequent fractures that decrease after puberty, and have mild to moderate bone
deformity. Life expectancy appears to be average.

Type V:

Type V is moderate in severity and is similar to Type IV in appearance and symptoms.

Identifying features include hypertrophic calluses that may form at fracture or surgical procedure
sites and restricted forearm rotation due to calcification of the membrane between the radius and
ulna.

Type VI:
Type VI is another moderate form and is similar to Type IV in appearance. This is an extremely
rare form. It is distinguished by a characteristic mineralization defect that can be seen in biopsied
bone.

Cerebral atrophy:

Brain atrophy — or cerebral atrophy — is the loss of brain cells called neurons. Atrophy also
destroys the connections that help the cells communicate. It can be a result of many different
diseases that damage the brain, including stroke and Alzheimer’s disease.

As you age, you naturally lose some brain cells, but this is a slow process. Brain atrophy
associated with disease or injury occurs more quickly and is more damaging.

Atrophy can affect different parts of the brain.

Focal atrophy affects cells in certain areas of the brain and results in a loss of function in those
specific areas.

Generalized atrophy affects cells all over the brain.

Life expectancy among patients with brain atrophy can be influenced by the condition that
caused the brain shrinkage. People with Alzheimer’s disease live an average of four to eight
years after their diagnosis. Those with multiple sclerosis can have close to a normal life span if
their condition is treated effectively.

Symptoms of brain atrophy:

The symptoms of brain atrophy vary depending on which region or regions of the brain are
affected.

Dementiais the loss of memory, learning, abstract thinking, and executive functions such as
planning and organizing.

Seizures are surges of abnormal electrical activity in the brain that cause repetitive movements,
convulsions, and sometimes a loss of consciousness.

Aphasias involve trouble speaking and understanding language.

What are the causes of brain atrophy?

Injuries, diseases, and infections can damage brain cells and cause atrophy.

Injuries
Stroke happens when blood flow to part of the brain is interrupted. Without a supply of oxygen-
rich blood, neurons in the area die. Functions controlled by those brain areas — including
movement and speech — are lost.

Traumatic brain injury is damage to the brain that may be caused by a fall, motor vehicle
accident, or other hit to the head.

Diseases and disorders

Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia are conditions in which brain cells become
progressively damaged and lose the ability to communicate with one another. It causes a loss of
memory and thinking ability severe enough to be life-altering. Alzheimer’s disease, typically
beginning after age 60, is the leading cause of dementia. It’s responsible for 60 to 80 percent of
all cases.

Cerebral palsy is a movement disorder caused by abnormal brain development in the womb. It
causes a lack of muscle coordination, difficulty with walking, and other movement disorders.

Huntington’s disease is an inherited condition that progressively damages neurons. It usually

begins in mid-life. Over time, it affects a person’s mental and physical abilities to include severe
depression and chorea (involuntary, dance-like movements throughout the body).

Leukodystrophies are a group of rare, inherited disorders that damage the myelin sheath — a
protective coating that surrounds nerve cells. Usually beginning in childhood, it can cause
problems with memory, movement, behavior, vision, and hearing.

Multiple sclerosis, which usually begins in young adulthood and affects women more often than
men, is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the protective coating
around nerve cells. Over time, the nerve cells become damaged. As a result, problems in
sensation, movement, and coordination can occur. However, like other diseases noted, it can also
lead to dementia and brain atrophy.