Persons with Disabilities

Physical and Medical Disabilities

Physical/Medical Disabilities

Genetic Congenital

At birth or soon after birth May or may not be genetic

Disease Acquired

Injury/accidents

Hidden/Invisible Disabilities

Asthma Diabetes Kidney diseases Hemophilia Epilepsy Sickle cell anemia Cardiac problems Cystic fibrosis

Physical and Medical Disabilities

Types: Mobility Impairments Visual Impairments Hearing Impairments Medical/Systemic Impairments

Mobility Impairments

Physical limitations Stamina limitations Endurance limitations

Mobility Impairments

Amputation Arthritis Cerebral palsy Neuromuscular/Neurological disorders Acquired/Traumatic Brain Injury Spinal Cord Injury

Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis

Chronic arthritis of unknown causes Autoimmune disease

Infancy-older child Joints swell, bone growth changes Pain, tenderness Internal problems

Cerebral Palsy Disorder of movement

Muscle weakness/Muscle spasms Balance and coordination (ataxia)

Damage to the motor control areas of the brain Injury before, during or after birth

Oxygen deprivation (near drowning, cardiac arrest) Head injury/Being shaken RH incompatibility Prematurity

Disease of the mother: Rubella Meningitis Shingles Toxoplasmosis Diabetes Toxemia

Neuromuscular and Neurological Disabilities

Damage to the nervous systems Brain and spine injury Heart attacks Serious infections Lack of oxygen to the brain

Loss of physical and/or mental functions Movement Manipulation of objects Expression of feelings Thinking Processing of information

Neuromuscular Disorders

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis Multiple sclerosis Muscular dystrophy

Neuromuscular Disorders

Genetic Immune system disorder

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Nerve cells in brain and spinal cord are attacked.

Usually between ages 40-60. Majority are male. Can run in families. Difficulties:

Walking/running Writing Speech problems

Multiple Sclerosis Myelin sheath of nerve cells damaged. Affects more women than men. Begins ages 20-40. Difficulties:

Visual disturbances Muscle weakness Difficulty with coordination and balance Numbness Thinking and memory problems.

Muscular Dystrophy

More than 30 inherited diseases. Muscle weakness and loss.

Heart and diaphragm. Appears from infancy to middle/old

age.

Spina Bifida

Genetic/Influenced by drugs/chemicals Neural tube defect

Baby’s spinal cord does not develop normally during pregnancy.

Partial or full paralysis of the legs Difficulties with bowel or bladder control Fluid in the brain Bone and joint deformities Curvature of the spine

Acquired/Traumatic Brain Injury Injury to the head or brain

50,000 people per year College students are in a high risk category

Boys are twice as likely as girls to have injuries to the brain or spinal cord.

Loss of abilities: Cognitive/memory Communicative Motor Psychosocial Sensory

Acquired/Traumatic Brain Injury

Need routine Need step by step directions Need repetition Need reinforcement of learning

Spinal Cord Injury Causes:

Motor vehicle accidents Usually involving alcohol

Gunshot wounds Sports injuries

Hockey, farm accidents, diving accidents

Late adolescence and young adulthood Paralysis Lack of sensation Depends of the level of injury and how

complete the spine is severed.

Etiquette:Persons in Wheelchairs

Wait until the person asks for assistance.

Ask if the person wants your assistance.

Do not lean on the chair. Sit down to be at the person’s eye

level after a few minutes. No patting on the head.

Visual Impairments

Disease, accidents, congenital illnesses.

Legally blind: See at 20 feet what a normal person

sees at 200 feet.

Visual Impairments

Explain verbally what you are doing Be descriptive when using visual aids. Tell when someone comes in or leaves

the room. Ask if the person wants assistance. Give copies of materials. Do not pet guide dogs.

Hearing Impairments:Communication Disability

Physical damage, at birth, disease during pregnancy, exposure to very loud noises, ear infections.

Needs visual clues.

Hearing Impairments

Good lighting and quiet location. Do not talk while you are walking away. Look and speak directly to the person. Make sure the person can see your

face and lips no chewing). Do not address the interpreter. Identify your topic at the beginning. May need to repeat or rephrase.

Medical/Systemic Impairments

Cancer Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Diabetes Epilepsy/Seizure Disorder Lupus Cystic Fibrosis

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Extreme fatigue not relieved by rest.

Memory impairment Muscle pain Joint pain Headaches Sore throat Tender neck/armpit lymph nodes

Four times as many women than men. People in 40s and 50s. Sometimes seen in members of the same

family.

Epilepsy/Seizure Disorder

Brain cells do not work properly Momentary loss of consciousness with

muscle twitching Abrupt jerking of muscles Sudden loss of consciousness and

muscle tone

Lupus Chronic inflammatory disease usually

involving the skin, joints, blood and kidneys. Environmental and genetic causes.

Infections, antibiotics (sulfa/penicillin family). Ultraviolet light, extreme stress, hormones.

Can occur in either gender and at any age. Occurs 10-15 times more in adult females.

People of African, American Indian and Asian origin may develop the disease more frequently.

Lupus Symptoms with remissions and flare ups:

Achy and/or swelling joints Fever Fatigue Skin rashes (butterfly on checks and nose) Chest pain when breathing deep Kidney involvement Sun or light sensitivity Hair loss Seizures Mouth or nose ulcers Raynaud’s Syndrome

Fingers turning white or blue in the cold

Cystic Fibrosis

Genetic Defective gene produces thick, sticky

mucus, sweat, saliva and digestive juices. Northern Europeans are at more risk.

Lung and pancreas damage Respiratory infections Nutritional deficiencies

Possible Accommodations

Priority registration Extended time for

exams Distraction-reduced

environment Consideration for

absences Frequent breaks Copy of professor’s

notes

Food/beverages in class

Books on tape Enlarged font Use of a computer Note-taker Reader Scribe Moving classes to

accessible locations

Activity

How can we modify our labs to be more accessible?