Orthopedic

Impairment
 ORTHOPEDIC IMPAIRMENT

According to the federal Individuals With Disabilities Education

Act (IDEA), an orthopedic impairment is defined as a bone-,
joint-, or muscle-related disability that is so severe that it
negatively affects a child’s educational performance.
Potential Causes of Orthopedic Impairment

Amputation

Birth trauma
Burns

Cerebral palsy
Disease (poliomyelitis, bone tuberculosis)

Fractures

Genetic abnormality (e.g., the absence of a member, clubfoot)

Injury
 Prevalence

The U.S. Department of Education reports 5,971,495

students receiving special education services in the 2003-
2004 school years. Of that number, roughly 1.1%, or 68,188
students, received special education services based on a
classification of orthopedic impairments.
Characteristics

NEOROMOTOR IMPAIRMENT

Involve the central nervous system (brain, spinal cord, or nerves that
send impulses to muscles)
Affect a Childs ability to move, use, feel, or control certain parts of the
body
e.g spina bifida, cerebral palsy, and spinal cord injuries
Two most common types of
neuromotor impairments

Cerebral palsy

It includes a number of chronic disorders

that impair movement control
Appear early in life and generally do not
worsen as children age
Cause by injury to parts of the brain that
control the ability to control muscles. The
injury can occur before birth, during
birth, or soon after birth
Early signs normally appear by the time
a child is 18 months of age
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)
Spina Bifida
A cleft spine, or incomplete closure
of spinal column
It is the most common permanently
disabling birth defect
Spina bifida occulta is the mildest
and the most common form
Characteristics
DEGENERATIVE DISEASES

Those that affect motor movement such as muscular dystrophy

MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS

Skeletal system impairments that involve the joints, bones, limbs,

and associated muscles
Include defects or diseases of the bones and muscles, such as limb
deficiency or club-foot
Educational Impact
The specific impact on learning of an individual is contingent upon the disease, its severity and
individual factors. Two individuals with identical diagnoses may be quite different in terms of
their capabilities.

Many students with orthopedic impairments have no cognitive, learning, perceptual, language,
or sensory issues. However, individuals with neuromotor impairments have a higher incidence
of additional impairments, especially when there has been brain involvement. For most
students with orthopedic impairments, the impact on learning is focused on accommodations
necessary for students to have access to academic instruction.
Educational Considerations
Inclusion in general education classes, but some students may need services from
resource rooms, special classes, schools, or residential facilities, as well as hospital or
homebound program
Setting up the appropriate placement, services, and environment begins with asking the
student what he or she needs and evolves through the assessment and individualized
education plan (IEP) process.
To assist with academic tasks, a teacher might secure papers to a student's work area
Provide writing instruments that require less pressure to produce a mark, such as felt-tip
pens or soft lead pencils
Specialists such as physical therapists and orthopedic therapists will be involved in the
educational assessment
 Educational Considerations
In order for the student to access the general curriculum, the student may require these
accommodations:

Special seating arrangements to develop useful posture and movements

Instruction focused on development of gross and fine motor skills
Securing suitable augmentative communication and other assistive devices
Awareness of medical condition and its affect on the student (such as getting tired quickly)
Multiple types of assistive technology may be used:

Devices to access information: These assistive technology devices focus on aiding the
student to access the educational material. These devices include:

speech recognition software

screen reading software
augmentative and alternative communication devices (such as communication boards)
academic software packages for students with disabilities
Devices for positioning and mobility:

These assistive technology devices focus on helping the student participate in

educational activities. These devices include:

canes
walkers
crutches
wheelchairs
specialized exercise equipment
specialized chairs, desks, and tables for proper posture development
REFERENCES
http://www.projectidealonline.org/v/orthopedic-impairments/

https://sites.google.com/site/specialeducationnation/orthopedic-impairment
https://www.verywellfamily.com/what-is-orthopedic-impairment-
2162506#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20federal%20Individuals,affects%20a%
20child's%20educational%20performance.