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Teaching Students with Physical Disabilities and Health Impairments

A physical disability is one that interferes with the child's ability to use his or her own body. A condition that requires ongoing medical attention is a health impairment. A physical disability may include being unable to participate in all school activities. Health impairments may include things such as asthma, diabetes, or a heart defect. Health impairments usually do not interfere with the child's ability to participate in classroom activities and probably will not require curricular modifications. Students with physical disabilities may not need curricular modifications, but adaptations in the way the curriculum is approached.

Teaching Stratagies

It is safe to assume that students with physical disabilities will have a vast support network to help them, including resource help, physical therapy, and an aid in the classroom.
If the student is unable to communicate verbally, they may use either a speech board, or a computer like object with a synthesized voice to help them to communicate. These devises are usually manipulated by the child pointing to a word or a symbol. If the student has poor muscle control, they may require aid in writing. These aids can vary from splints to help brace the hands or arms to typewriters and computers.
The child may or may not be able to participate in a traditional physical education program. If not, a modified program that focuses on developing control of the body and motor skills may be substituted. But again, it is important to include the student in as many traditional classroom activities as possible.

Self care skills should also be taught to the students. This is to aid the students in becoming more independent. Special care should also be taken to aid the students in developing socialization skills. The teacher has the responsibility to educate the rest of the class. A physical disability should not be ridiculed, nor is it something to be ashamed of. The teacher must make the other students aware that each one of them is different, and part of life is accepting everybody's differences.

Learn more about this author, Tracie Joy.
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