Dealing with Chronic Illness or Physical Disability in your Classroom.

By Alexander, Brittany, Joani, Milo, Sarah H. and Thomas

What is Chronic Illness and Physical Disability?

The BC Ministry of Education defines a physical disability and chronic illness as,

“..having a physical disability or chronic health impairment based on the need for special educational services due to one or more of the following:

• Nervous system impairment that impacts movement

or mobility; • Musculoskeletal condition; and/or • Chronic health impairment that seriously impacts students’ education and achievement.”

What is Chronic Illness and Physical Disability?

Common chronic illnesses: -Asthma -Cancer -Diabetes -Eating disorders -Sleep disorders -Traumatic brain injury.

Less common (but no less severe): -Sickle cell disease -Seizure disorders-HIV/AIDS.

-An average of 17% under the age of 18 suffer from a chronic illness.

What is Chronic Illness and Physical Disability?

Physical disabilities could include:

-Acquired brain injury -Amputation

-Cerebral Palsy -Muscular dystrophy

-Deaf/hard hearing -Visual impairment

-Spina Bifida -Parkinson’s disease

-Multiple Sclerosis -Cystic Fibrosis

Chronic Illnesses: Challenges

● Absenteeism● Cognitive impairments● Side effects of medication● Psychological, social, and emotional

problems

Chronic Illnesses - Cognitive impairments:

● Direct result of chronic illness● From stress or anxiety● Result of medication

Chronic Illness - Medication side effects:

● Sedation● Restlessness● Irritability● Lethargy● Fatigue● Difficulty in

focusing

● Pain● Nausea● Emotional lability● Tremors● Poor coordination

in muscle movement

Chronic Illness - Psychological, emotional, social problems:

● Difficulty in acceptance of illness● Difficulty in maintaining relationships● Reluctance to join - due to physical or

emotional ● Motivational problems

Frustration and social isolation...

Chronic Illnesses: Challenges of a Cancer patient

● All the above challenges…

● Many childhood cancer survivors experience problems with learning and emotional development

● Periods of illness following treatment● Emotional and physical trauma

Chronic Illness: Example

Cancer ● Back to School Challenges● Communication is key● Reconnecting with friends (i.e. staying connected)

Strategy for student

● ‘Face Place’ (p.81- 41 Active Learning Strategies for the Inclusive Classroom)

○ Students create and share “Facebook” pages related to learning topics and determine who they would “friend” among their peers

Permanent Physical Disabilities:

● Different reasons for physical disabilities

○ Genetic disorders, injury, drugs/alcohol etc.

● Different severities

● Different emotional and social impacts (can be + or -)

Permanent Physical Disabilities:

● impacts on education○ largest impacts are in PE class○ social impact can lead to extensive emotional

stress○ other children (especially younger) often don’t

know how to act around disabilities

● inclusion is key to success and acceptance○ boosts self esteem and social acceptance○ increases academic and emotional success

Permanent Physical Disabilities:

● usually no funding

● up to teachers “...sufficient training and experience...” - BC Min Ed special-ed policy manual

● Should have IEP in place (often don’t)

● Collaborative approach

Permanent Physical Disabilities:

● Social Identity

○ Interactions

○ Perceptions

Permanent Physical Disabilities:

● Western Culture

○ Importance of Physical Beauty

○ Manliness

○ Femininity

Permanent Physical Disabilities:

● Devaluation

● Discrimination

Functional Considerations : Physical Competence

● Lack of Autonomy

○ Helplessness

○ Passivity

○ Dependency

Aesthetic Considerations : Do they fit in?

● Are they physically attractive?

○ Different

○ Stigmatized

○ Knee-jerk reactions

Intervention / Coping strategy for persons with Physical Disabilities

● Focus on Ability not Dis-Ability

○ Sport

○ Physical Activity

○ Identity

Dave Warren - Father, Coach, Business Owner, and Volleyball Player extraordinaire!

Climbing a tree. Performing the “human flag”.

Spotlight: Dave Warren

Full Name: Dave Miles WarrenAge: 52Occupation: Jack-of-All-TradesMarried to: Becky Warren Children: FourFavourite Movie: What About Bob?Favourite Snack: Coffee with ice cream in itFavourite Sport: VolleyballFavourite Son: …Original quote: “That’ll be 100 bucks… Canadian.”

(31 years and counting)

Guest Speaker: Dave Warren

Spotlight: Dave Warren

● Grew up in Northern B.C.

● One of five children

● Drove tractors by himself at age 9

● Very humble upbringing

Spotlight: Dave Warren

● 12 years old

● Hunting accident

● Above Knee Amputation of right leg

● Life was drastically changed

Dave and School

● Phantom Pains and the “Traditional Classroom”.

● Grade 8 - “The worst three years of my life”.

● P.E., picking teams, and the names they called me.

● Labelled and treated differently.

● “The nice old lady” story.

Dave and Volleyball: Storybook Ending?

● School team● Bible College● 1996 Canada Cup● Paralympic volleyball

Dave and Volleyball: The Legacy Continues

● Sport and Physical Activity as avenue for positive identity.

Chronic Illness: Permanent Physical Disabilities

Active Learning Strategy

Philosophical ChairsStudents sit in lines opposite one another sharing perspectives from their topic or points of view.

Chronic Illness and Physical Disability: Conclusion

● Get Informed

● Stay on top of YOUR work

● and again, focus on the ability, not the disability

References and Sources of Further Information:

1. American Cancer Society. Accessed September 2013. URL: http://www.cancer.org/cancer/news/children-with-cancer-face-back-to-school-challenges

2. KidsHealth Website. Accessed September 2013. URL: http://kidshealth.org/parent/positive/family/academics_illness.html

3. Ministry of Education. Accessed September 2013. URL: http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/specialed/awareness/

4. Shaw, S, S. Galser, M. Stern, C. Sferdenschi, P. McCabe. 2010. Responding to students chronic illnesses. Principal Leadership. March Issue: 12-16.