D isabilities H andbook

Sabrina Chapman

Specifi
c Learning D isabilities
Definition
A disorder in one or more of the basic psychological processes involved in understanding or in using language, spoken or written, that may manifest itself in the
imperfect ability to learn, think, speak, read, write, spell, or do mathematical calculations.
(Colarusso et. al., p. 151)

Characteristics
may have trouble learning the alphabet, rhyming words, or connecting letters to their sounds
may make many mistakes when reading aloud, and repeat and pause often
may not understand what he or she reads
may have real trouble with spelling
may have very messy handwriting or hold a pencil awkwardly
may struggle to express ideas in writing
may learn language late and have a limited vocabulary
may have trouble remembering the sounds that letters make or hearing slight differences between words
may have trouble understanding jokes, comic strips, and sarcasm
may have trouble following directions;
may mispronounce words or use a wrong word that sounds similar
may have trouble organizing what he or she wants to say or not be able to think of the word he or she needs for writing or conversation
may not follow the social rules of conversation, such as taking turns, and may stand too close to the listener
may confuse math symbols and misread numbers
may not be able to retell a story in order (what happened first, second, third)
may not know where to begin a task or how to go on from there
(Retrieved From http://www.parentcenterhub.org/repository/ld/)

Strategies/Interventions
breaking tasks into smaller steps, and giving directions verbally and in writing
giving the student more time to finish schoolwork or take tests
letting the student with reading problems use instructional materials that are accessible to those with print disabilities
letting the student with listening difficulties borrow notes from a classmate or use a tape recorder
letting the student with writing difficulties use a computer with specialized software that spell checks, grammar checks, or recognizes speech
(Retrieved from http://www.parentcenterhub.org/repository/ld/#teachers )

Speech or Language Im pairm ents

(Retrieved from

http://w w w .parentcenterhub.org/repository/speechlanguage/)

Definition
communication disorder, such as stuttering, impaired articulation, a language impairment, or a voice
impairment, that adversely affects a childs educational performance
(Under IDEA)

Characteristics
improper use of words and their meanings,
inability to express ideas,
inappropriate grammatical patterns,
reduced vocabulary, and
inability to follow directions.

Strategies/Interventions
Child with Language Impairment Sits at the Front
Separate the child with Language Impairment from Potentially Disruptive Children
Allow Extra Time to Complete Work
Diary or Whiteboard Routine
(Retrieved From http://www.speechlanguage-resources.com/effective-classroom-strategies.html)

IntellectualD isability
Definition
significant impairment in intellectual ability accompanied by deficits in skills necessary for independent daily functioning
(Retrieved from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intellectual%20disability)

Characteristics
sit up, crawl, or walk later than other children
learn to talk later, or have trouble speaking
find it hard to remember things
not understand how to pay for thing
have trouble understanding social rules
have trouble seeing the consequences of their actions
have trouble solving problems
have trouble thinking logically
(Retrieved From http://www.parentcenterhub.org/repository/intellectual/)

Strategies/Interventions
Teach one concept or activity component at a time
Teach one step at a time to help support memorization and sequencing
Teach students in small groups, or one-on-one, if possible
Always provide multiple opportunities to practice skills in a number of different settings
Use physical and verbal prompting to guide correct responses, and provide specific verbal praise to reinforce these
responses
(Retrieved from http://www.projectidealonline.org/v/intellectual-disabilities/)

Em otionalD isturbance

(Retrieved From :

http://w w w .parentcenterhub.org/repository/em otionaldisturbance/)

Definition
a condition exhibiting one or more of the following characteristics over a long period of
time and to a marked degree that adversely affects a childs educational performance:
(A) An inability to learn that cannot be explained by intellectual, sensory, or health factors.
(B) An inability to build or maintain satisfactory interpersonal relationships with peers and
teachers.
(C) Inappropriate types of behavior or feelings under normal circumstances.
(D) A general pervasive mood of unhappiness or depression.
(E) A tendency to develop physical symptoms or fears associated with personal or school
problems.
(Defined by IDEA)

Characteristics
Hyperactivity (short attention span, impulsiveness);
Aggression or self-injurious behavior (acting out, fighting);
Withdrawal (not interacting socially with others, excessive fear or anxiety);
Immaturity (inappropriate crying, temper tantrums, poor coping skills); and
Learning difficulties (academically performing below grade level).

M ultiple D isabilities
Definition
concomitant [simultaneous] impairments (such as intellectual
disability-blindness, intellectual disability-orthopedic impairment,
etc.), the combination of which causes such severe educational
needs that they cannot be accommodated in a special education
program solely for one of the impairments. The term does not
include deaf-blindness
(Defined my IDEA, Retrieved from http://www.parentcenterhub.org/repository/multiple/)

Characteristics
Characteristics of one or more of the other disabilities

Strategies/Interventions
Strategies that go with particular student and they disability. (See
those slides)

H earing Im pairm ents

Retrieved From http://w w w .projectidealonline.org/v/hearing-im pairm ents/

Definition
an impairment in hearing, whether permanent or fluctuating, that adversely
affects a child's educational performance (Defined by IDEA)

Characteristics
does not respond consistently to sounds or to his or her own name
asks for things to be repeated or often says huh?
is delayed in developing speech or has unclear speech
turns the volume up loud on the TV and other electronic devices

Strategies/Interventions
regular speech, language, and auditory training from a specialist;
amplification systems
services of an interpreter for those students who use sign language;
favorable seating in the class to facilitate lip reading;
captioned films/videos

O rthopedic Im pairm ents

Definition
a severe orthopedic impairment that adversely affects a child's educational performance. The term
includes impairments caused by congenital anomaly (e.g., clubfoot, absence of some member, etc.),
impairments caused by disease (e.g., poliomyelitis, bone tuberculosis, etc.), and impairments from
other causes (e.g., cerebral palsy, amputations, and fractures or burns that cause contractures)

Characteristics
The IDEA category of orthopedic impairments contains a wide variety of disorders. These can be
divided into three main areas: neuromotor impairments, degenerative diseases, and musculoskeletal
disorders. The specific characteristics of an individual who has an orthopedic impairment will depend
on both the specific disease and its severity, as well as additional individual factors.

Strategies/Interventions
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)

O ther H ealth Im pairm ents

Definition

having limited strength, vitality, or alertness, including a heightened alertness to environmental

(i) Is due to chronic or acute health problems such as asthma, attention deficit disorder or
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, diabetes, epilepsy, a heart condition, hemophilia, lead
poisoning, leukemia, nephritis, rheumatic fever, sickle cell anemia, and Tourette
syndromepoisoning, leukemia, nephritis, rheumatic fever, sickle cell

(ii) Adversely affects a childs educational performance

(Retrieved From http://www.parentcenterhub.org/repository/ohi/)

Characteristics

Limited strength due to chronic health problems

Limited vitality due to chronic health problems

Limited alertness due to chronic health problems

an educational performance that is negatively affected as a result.

(Retrieved From

http://www.parentcenterhub.org/repository/ohi/)

Strategies/Interventions

Allow extra time for these students to shift from one activity or environment to the next.

Teach these students specific techniques for organizing their thoughts and materials. Organize the
classroom accordingly, and keep all materials in permanent locations for easy access.

VisualIm pairm ents

(Retrieved From http://w w w .parentcenterhub.org/repository/visualim pairm ent/# )

Definition
means an impairment in vision that, even with correction, adversely affects a childs educational
performance. The term includes both partial sight and blindness

Characteristics
Eyes that dont move together when following an object or a face
Crossed eyes, eyes that turn out or in, eyes that flutter from side to side or up and down, or eyes that do not seem to focus
Eyes that bulge, dance, or bounce in rapid rhythmic movements
Pupils that are unequal in size or that appear white instead of black
Repeated shutting or covering of one eye (as noticed with Julian)
Unusual degree of clumsiness, such as frequent bumping into things or knocking things over
Frequent squinting, blinking, eye-rubbing, or face crunching, especially when theres no bright light present
Sitting too close to the TV or holding toys and books too close to the face
Avoiding tasks and activities that require good vision

Strategies/Interventions
use assistive technologies designed for children with visual impairments
use what residual vision they have effectively and efficiently
read and write in Braille, if determined appropriate by the IEP team of the child after a thorough evaluation

Autism
Definition
Autism and ASD are general terms for complex disorders in brain development, characterized by
difficulties with social interaction, nonverbal and verbal communication, and repetitive behaviors.
(autismspeaks.org)

Characteristics
Communication problems (for example, with the use or comprehension of language)
Difficulty relating to people, things, and events
Playing with toys and objects in unusual ways
Difficulty adjusting to changes in routine or to familiar surroundings
Repetitive body movements or behaviors
(Retrieved From http://www.parentcenterhub.org/repository/autism/#what)

Strategies/Interventions
demonstrate and model expected skills
provide visual schedules of the days events in a location easily seen by the student
work to make eye contact with the student and expect to acquire the students attention
(Retrieved from http://www.learnnc.org/lp/editions/every-learner/6692)

D eaf-blindness
Definition
concomitant [simultaneous] hearing and visual impairments, the combination of which causes such
severe communication and other developmental and educational needs that they cannot be
accommodated in special education programs solely for children with deafness or children with blindness
(Retrieved From http://www.parentcenterhub.org/repository/deafblindness/#about)

Strategies/Interventions
Symbolic communication can be utilized by individuals who are deafblind. The principal communication
systems include:
Touch cues
Object symbols
Sign language
Gestures
Picture symbols
Fingerspelling
Braille
American Sign Language
Lip-reading speech
Large print
(Retrieved From http://www.projectidealonline.org/v/deaf-blindness/)

Traum atic Brain Injury

Definition

an acquired injury to the brain caused by an external physical force, resulting in total or partial functional
disability or psychosocial impairment, or both, that adversely affects a childs educational performance. The
term applies to open or closed head injuries resulting in impairments in one or more areas, such as cognition;
language; memory; attention; reasoning; abstract thinking; judgment; problem-solving; sensory, perceptual,
and motor abilities; psycho-social behavior; physical functions; information processing; and speech. The term
does not apply to brain injuries that are congenital or degenerative, or to brain injuries induced by birth
trauma (Defined by IDEA) (Retrieved From http://www.parentcenterhub.org/repository/tbi/#def)

Characteristics

Medical/Neurological Symptoms: speech, vision, hearing and other sensory impairment, decreased motor
coordination, difficulty breathing, dizziness, headaches, impaired balance, loss of intellectual capacities,
partial to full paralysis, reduced body strength, seizures, sleep disorders, and speech problems.

Cognitive Symptoms: decreased attention, organizational skills, and problem solving ability; difficulty with
abstract concepts; memory deficits; perceptual problems; poor concentration, poor judgment; slowed
information processing, and poor memory.

Behavioral/Emotional Symptoms: aggressive behavior, denial of deficits, depression, difficulty accepting and
responding to change, loss of reduction of inhibitions, distractibility, feelings of worthlessness, lack of
emotion, low frustration level, helplessness, impulsivity, inappropriate crying or laughing, and irritability.

Social Skills Development: difficulties maintaining relationships, inability to restrict socially inappropriate
behaviors, inappropriate responses to the environment, insensitivity to others' feelings, limited initiation of
social interactions, and social isolation. (Retrieved from http://www.projectidealonline.org/v/traumatic-brain-injury/)

Strategies/Interventions

Provide repetition and consistency

D evelopm entalD elay

Definition
for children aged three through nine (or any subset of that age range, including ages three
through five), mayinclude a child
(1) Who is experiencing developmental delays as defined by the State and as measured by
appropriate diagnostic instruments and procedures in one or more of the following areas:
Physical development, cognitive development, communication development, social or
emotional development, or adaptive development; and
(2) Who, by reason thereof, needs special education and related services
(Retrieved from http://www.parentcenterhub.org/repository/dd/)

Characteristics

Varies

Strategies/Interventions
Assistive technology (devices a child might need)
Audiology or hearing services
Speech and language services
Counseling and training for a family

(Defined by IDEA)