Jenelle Magbutay

Other Health Impairments

Acronym: OHI

Characteristics for Other Health Impairments

Major Health Impairments

There are many health impairments that fall under this category, and some can be treated

effectively while others have no cure. Some could also become an emergency, and some could

even result in death. Examples of the most common major health impairments are asthma,

seizure disorders, and AD/HD.

Infectious Diseases

A few diseases fall under this category. Some could be transmittable and pose a threat, such as

tuberculosis, and some aren’t likely to spread in a school environment, like HIV/AIDS.

Identification/Service Delivery

Students with Other Health Impairments are diagnosed by their doctors/physicians and can be

identified in a health evaluation. With an official diagnosis by their health care provider, they can

be provided with a doctor’s note to provide further proof of their ailment.

Children with OHI can still attend public schools, but activities that can cause distress or trigger

a reaction must be avoided; i.e. a highly asthmatic child avoiding running the mile for PE class.

Parents could also choose to homeschool the child and cater their home and education to the

needs of their child.

Classroom Considerations

Students who have disabilities that inhibit them physically should not be forced to participate.

Asthmatic students should avoid triggers within the classroom i.e. a classroom pet. The student’s

peers, regardless of what sort of OHI they may have, should be informed of the disability they

have and what to do in the process of an event so they are not caught by surprised and could

potentially help out when the situation arises.

Teaching Strategies

For those with non-AD/HD OHI, allowing time to accommodate for their physical disabilities

and educating those around them on how to assist would be sufficient. For students with AD/HD,

allowing for extra time to finish assignments/tests, simplifying complex activities, and sitting the

student closer to the teacher to ensure they are always on tasks will aid in the learning process.

As previously stated, those with OHI can be accommodated by giving them the option to sit out

during strenuous physical activities or to ensure that they have the correct tools to keep them

caught up with the curriculum should their ailment causes them to be absent from class.

Depending on how severe a case of AD/HD a child has, accommodations can be made by

simplifying more complex assignments for them, allowing them more time to complete

assignments and tests, and making sure they have sufficient breaks in between activities.

Behavior Management and Social Strategies

Students with AD/HD, depending on the severity, should have an IEP customized to their own

personal academic and behavioral needs. Students should be taught strategies on how to study
and focus in class, such as for problem-solving and self-control. They should also be under

supervision to ensure that they are on task. Non-ADHD OHI-categorized students should not

have as much of a problem with this, simply having the entire classroom aware and on the same

page about helping the student would suffice.

Resources for Teachers

https://www.nsta.org/disabilities/other.aspx

http://supportsped.blogspot.com/2011/03/strategies-for-teaching-students-with_4502.html

https://sites.google.com/a/ucdavis.edu/teaching-students-with-disabilities/home/idea-disabilities/

other-health-impairment

Resource for Parents

http://www.parentcenterhub.org/wp-content/uploads/repo_items/fs15.pdf

https://www.naset.org/index.php?id=2278

https://www.verywellfamily.com/other-health-impairments-2162517

References

Gargiulo, Richard M., (2015). Special education in contemporary society. Thousand Oaks,

California: Sage Publications, Inc.

Intellectual Disabilities - Project IDEAL. (2019). Retrieved from http://

www.projectidealonline.org/v/health-impairments