1.

1 Definitions of Terms

Impairment /የአካል ጉዳተኛ:- Lack / Loss or abnormality of psychological, physiological or

anatomical structure or functions.

 Impairment: A physical limitation, such as hearing, sight, intellectual ability, mobility or

language.

 Impairment is an injury, illness, or congenital condition that causes or is likely to cause a loss
or difference of physiological or psychological function.

 Impairment is the absence or not function of particular body part or organ like hands, legs,
eyes etc.. Some children, for instance, have impairments such as eyes that do not see well,
arms and legs that are deformed, or a brain not developing in a typical way etc.

 ii. Disability is a limitation to social functioning resulting from an impairment plus social or
environmental barriers

 Disability:- “ Functional loss due to permanent physical impairment resulting from inborn /
innate/ congenital / inherited / hereditary condition, disease or trauma*.”

 Disability -the loss or limitation of opportunities to take part in society on an equal level with
others due to social and environmental barriers.

 Medical Approach- functional limitations due to physical, intellectual or psychic

impairment, health or psychic disorders on a person (WHO,1996).

 The social approach:-disability largely depends on the context and is a consequence of

discrimination, bias/prejudice and exclusion.

 iii.Handicap :- a physical or mental condition that may limit what a person can do; a
physical or mental disability- a problem, situation, or event that makes progress or success
difficult.

 Handicap:- a disadvantage for a given individual, resulting from an impairment or a

disability, that limits or prevents the fulfillment of a role that is normal for that individual.

 Handicap is the result of an impairment or disability that limits or prevents the fulfillment of
one or several roles regarded as normal, depending on age, sex and socio- cultural factors.

1.1 Definitions of Basic Terms

Disability is the partial or complete loss of the use of a certain body part or organ. This leads to a
reduction or loss of function of that body part or organ. This reduced or lost function is what is called
a disability.

Impairment:

 Handicap: Refers to the problems a person with a disability or other limitation faces when
interacting with the environment. Thus, a handicap is an environment-related concept. A
 handicapping condition in one environment may not necessarily be handicapping in another
environment.

 Special educational needs: Individuals have different abilities and potentials in performing.
In education there are individuals who do not perform like the rest of other learners but
could perform if they got the right help.

 These learners have learning or educational needs, which are not the same as those of
others.

 We refer to this when applying to children with special educational needs e.g. learners who
cannot hear well, see well and understand well usually have social emotional/health
problems that may develop to permanency.

 Special education (segregation) : Special education is a separate system of education for

disabled children, outside the ordinary school. Special schools are for children who have the
same problem, where there are “expert” special educators.

 Rehabilitation refers to services given to newly disabled people with the purpose of
restoring some of the functionality they lost as a result of their disability. This is done mainly
to help them acquire skills for independent living.

 Habilitation is like rehabilitation except that it is usually given to disabled children who had
no functional skills in the first place at the time of acquiring the disability. Habilitation is
about teaching new skills to people who never had them in the first instance.

 Special needs: Any child who is experiencing difficulties learning may have special needs.
Children who often experience difficulties, and are having special needs are: girls, ethnic
minority children, children with disabilities, very poor children (orphans, street children),
gifted children etc.,

Causes of disability :

 Occur in three stages which are:

 Stage 1: Pre-natal stage/Before birth: These include maternal diet, toxaemia, bleeding and
pre-maturity, chromosome abnormalities, genetic diseases, heredity,

 poor nutrition, for example, due to unbalanced diet and lack of vitamins during pregnancy,

 venereal diseases such as syphilis and gonorrhoea, HIV/AIDS,

 diseases, such as Rubella (German measles) and those involving very high fever,

 use of certain drugs such as, quinine, aspirin and antibiotics, exposure to X-ray, especially
during the first three months of pregnancy, Misuse of narcotic drugs, cigarettes and alcohol.

 Stage 2: Peri-natal (during birth): These include:

 prolonged delivery/labour resulting to oxygen deficiency and head injuries.

 cord strangulation, trauma, pre-mature birth

 low birth weight, breech birth. This is where baby’s legs come out first during delivery.

 lack of oxygen during birth, neo-natal jaundice

 head injuries caused by misuse of delivery instruments, such as forceps delivery

 age of mother where she is either too young or too old

 venereal diseases in mother, such as syphilis and gonorrhoea and poor hygiene.

 Stage 3: Post-natal stage (after birth). These may include:

 poor nutrition, such as unbalanced diet and deficiency of iodine and vitamins in children.

 accidents, such as head injuries, brain damage or causing loss of limbs, and misuse of drugs
(medicines)

 childhood diseases, such as meningitis and measles

 eye diseases, such as, like cataract, trachoma and glaucoma

 Under stimulation, such as when the child is too little touched, cuddled, hugged, talked to,
or when a child is hidden in a dark room over long time.

 poor hygiene brought about by flies, polluted or infected drinking water and hygiene of the
face, eyes and ears

 exposure to poisonous agents and chemicals, and accidents ( traffic, industrial and domestic
accidents)

Causes of disability

 Genetic Causes:- abnormalities in genes and genetic inheritance e.g. Down syndrome,
diseases, illnesses, and over-exposure to x-rays can cause a genetic disorder.

 Environmental Causes :- poverty and malnutrition in pregnant mothers as well it can cause
poor development of vital organs in the child, which can eventually lead to disability after
birth, exposure to certain toxic chemicals and illnesses etc.

 Unknown Causes:- humans have still not found all the answers to all the defects in the
human body

 Inaccessible environment Causes:-sometimes society makes it difficult for people with

some impairment to function freely e.g. infrastructure

Types of impairment

 VISUAL:-any kind of vision loss, whether it's someone who cannot see at all or who has
partial vision loss.
  Blindness -vision loss that is not correctable with eyeglasses/lens

 Low vision:- partial sight -a visual impairment that affects only central vision the area
directly in front of the eyes or peripheral vision the area to either side of and slightly behind
the eyes.

 HEARING:- a general term indicating a continuum of hearing loss from mild to profound

 Hard of Hearing:- " whether permanent of fluctuating, which adversely affects a child's
educational performance

 Deaf: difficulty understanding speech, even with hearing aids but can successfully
communicate in sign language.

SPECIFIC LEARNING DISABILITY

3. Specific learning disability:- a disorder in one or more of the basic psychological processes
involved in understanding or in using language, spoken or written.

 Specific learning disability manifested in the imperfect ability to listen, think, speak, read,
write, spell, or to do mathematical calculations.

 The person looks perfectly normal and seems to be a very bright and intelligent person, yet

may be unable to demonstrate the skill level expected from someone of a similar age.
Types of Specific Learning Disabilities

 Auditory Processing Disorder (APD):- a condition that adversely affects how sound that travels
unimpeded through the ear is processed or interpreted by the brain.

 Dyscalculia:-affects/ difficulty a person‘s ability to understand numbers and learn math.

 Dysgraphia:- affects a person‘s handwriting ability and fine motor skills, e.g. illegible
handwriting, inconsistent spacing, poor spelling, and difficulty composing writing as well
as thinking and writing at the same time.

 Dyslexia/Language based:- affects reading and related language-based processing skills.

E.g. can affect reading fluency; decoding, reading comprehension, recall, writing, spelling,
and sometimes speech and can exist along with other related disorders.

Generally, people with learning disabilities are of average or above average intelligence.

 There is a gap b/n the individual‘s potential and actual achievement.

 Learning disabilities are referred to as “hidden disabilities”: the person looks perfectly
“normal” and seems to be a very bright and intelligent person, yet may be unable to
demonstrate the skill level expected from someone of a similar age. A learning disability
cannot be cured or fixed; it is a lifelong challenge.
  However, with appropriate support and intervention, PWLD can achieve success in school,
at work, in relationships, and in the community.

 Language Processing Disorder:- difficulty attaching meaning to sound groups that form words,
sentences and stories.

 While an Auditory Processing Disorder affects the interpretation of all sounds coming into
the brain,

 Language Processing Disorder (LPD) can affect expressive language and/or receptive
language.

 Non-Verbal Learning Disabilities:- is usually characterized by a significant discrepancy

between higher verbal skills and weaker motor, visual-spatial and social skills.

 Non-verbal cues like facial expressions or body language, and may have poor coordination.

 Visual Perceptual/Visual Motor Deficit:- a disorder that affects the understanding of

information that a person sees, or the ability to draw or copy.

 Speech/Language Impairments:- a communication disorder such as stuttering, impaired

articulation, language or a voice impairment that adversely affects a child‘s educational
performance. Classified as :-

 Articulation disorders:- are errors in the production of speech sounds that may be related
to anatomical or physiological limitations in the skeletal, muscular, or neuromuscular
support for speech production. These disorders include:

 Omissions: (boo for boat)

 Substitutions: (webbed for rabbit)

 Distortions: (ship for sip)

 Fluency disorders :- difficulties with the rhythm and timing of speech characterized by
hesitations, repetitions/prolongations of sounds, syllables, words/phrases e.g. Stuttering,
Cluttering

 Voice disorders:- characterized by abnormal production and/or absences of vocal quality,

pitch, loudness, resonance, and/or duration

 Phonological disorders :-the abnormal organization of the phonological system, or a

significant deficit in speech production or perception. Described as hard to understand or
as not saying the sounds correctly. Apraxia of speech is a disorder where the student may
want to speak but has difficulty planning what to say & the motor movements to use.

 Morphological disorders:- difficulties with morphological inflections (inflections on nouns,

verbs, and adjectives that signal different kinds of meanings) e.g. form, shape, or structure
plural and singular
  Semantic disorders:- characterized by poor vocabulary development, inappropriate use
and comprehend of word meanings.

 Syntactic deficits:- characterized by difficulty in acquiring the rules that govern word order
and others aspects of grammar such as subject-verb agreement.

 Pragmatic difficulties:- a problems in understanding and using language in different social

contexts. E.g. understanding of the rules for making eye contact, respecting personal
space, requesting information, and introducing topics.

 AUTISM :- a developmental disability significantly affecting verbal and nonverbal

communication and social interaction, generally evident before age 3 that adversely affects a
child‘s educational performance.

 Engaging in repetitive activities and stereotyped movements, resistance to environmental

change or change in daily routines, and unusual responses to sensory experiences.

 Autism is a neurodevelopment disorder defined by impairments in social and

communication development, accompanied by stereotyped patterns of behavior and

interest (Landa, 2007).

EMOTIONAL AND BEHAVIORAL DISORDERS

 It is a condition exhibiting one or more of the following characteristics over a long period of
time and adversely affects educational performance

i. An inability to learn that cannot be explained by intellectual, sensory, or health factors;

ii. An inability to build or maintain satisfactory interpersonal relationships with peers and
teachers;

iii. Inappropriate types of behavior or feelings under normal circumstances;

iv. A general pervasive mood of unhappiness or depression; or

v. A tendency to develop physical symptoms or fears associated with personal or school

problems.

Classification of behavioral and emotional disorders

i.Conduct disorder: seek attention, disruptive and act out overt (with violence or tantrums)
and covert (with lying, stealing, and/or drug use).

ii.Socialized aggression: individuals join subculture group of peers who are openly
disrespectful to their peers, teachers, and parents (delinquency & dropping out of school)

iii.Attention problems- attention deficit, easily destructible, poor concentration, impulsive

 iv.Anxiety/withdrawn- self-conscious, reserved, and unsure of themselves, anxious and
frequently depressed.

v.Psychotic behavior- show more odd/ bizarre behavior, hallucinate, deal in a fantasy
world and may even talk in gibberish.

vi.Motor excess: hyperactive, cannot sit nor listen to others nor keep their attention
focused.

Causes of behavioral and emotional disorders

1. Biological- includes genetic disorders, brain damage, and malnutrition, allergies,

temperament and damage to the central nervous system.

2. Family factors- family interactions, family influence, child abuse, neglect, and poor
disciplinary practices at home.

3. Cultural factors- traditional and cultural negative practices, for example watching violence
and sexually oriented movies and TV programs.

4. Environmental factors- peer pressure, living in poor/impoverished areas, and schooling

practices that are unresponsive to individual needs.

INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY:- both intellectual functioning and in adaptive behavior, which

covers many everyday social and practical skills.

 Sub average intellectual functioning:- general mental capacity, such as learning, reasoning,
problem solving, and so on (IQ<70)

 Significant limitations exist in two or more adaptive skill areas: such as

 Conceptual skills:- language and literacy; money, time, and number concepts; and self-
direction.

 Social skills :- interpersonal skills, social responsibility, self-esteem, gullibility, innocence, social
problem solving, and the ability to follow rules/obey laws and to avoid being victimized.

 Practical skills:- activities of daily living (personal care), occupational skills, healthcare,
travel/transportation, schedules/routines, safety, use of money, use of the telephone.

Impact of Intellectual Disability on learning, adapt to home, school, and community

environments

1. Cognition- vary physically and emotionally, personality, disposition, beliefs etc.,

2. Learning and Memory: below average in comparison to peers without disabilities

3. Attention: difficulty distinguishing and attending to relevant questions in both learning and
social situations
 4. Adaptive Skills: difficulty in both learning and applying skills for a number of reasons,
including a higher level of distractibility, inattentiveness, failure to read social cues, and
impulsive behavior

5. Speech and Language: have delayed speech, language comprehension and formulation
difficulties.

6. Motivation: lacking motivation, or outer-directed behavior.

7. Academic Achievement: lead to persistent problems.

8. Physical characteristics: severe and profound have multiple disabilities that affect nearly
every aspect of intellectual and physical development

PHYSICAL AND HEALTH IMPAIRMENT

a. Physical/ orthopedic disability: is a condition that interferes with the individual‘s ability to
use his or her body. Many but not all, physical disabilities are orthopedic impairments.

 The term orthopedic impairment generally refers to conditions of muscular or skeletal

system and sometimes to physical disabling conditions of the nervous system.

b. Health impairment:- is a condition that requires ongoing medical attention.

 It includes asthma, heart defects, cancer, diabetes, hemophilia. HIV/AIDS, COVID etc.

Classification and Characteristics of physical impairment

i. Mild physical disability:- these individuals are able to walk without aids and may make
normal developmental progress.

ii. Moderate physical disability:- individuals can walk with braces and crutches and may have
difficulty with fine-motor skills and speech production.

iii. Severe physical disability:-wheel-chair dependent and may need special help to achieve
regular development.

The physical disability could be broadly classified into two

i. The neurological system:-the brain, spinal cord and nerve related problems.

ii. Musculo skeletal system-the muscles, bones and joints are deficient due to various causes

The neurological system :-

 1. Cerebral palsy or a traumatic brain injury:- the brain either sends the wrong instructions
or interprets feedback incorrectly.

 the result is poorly coordinated movement.

 With the spinal cord injury or deformity, the path ways between the brain and the muscles
are interrupted
  Subsequently messages are transmitted but never received.

 The result is muscle paralysis and loss of sensation beyond the point where the spinal cord
or the nerve is damaged.

 Approximately 40% of those with cerebral palsy have normal intelligence; the remainders
have from mild to severe retardation

 In general cerebral palsy is a disorder of posture and movement and non progression insult
of the developing brain

2. Epilepsy:-occurs when the brain cells are not working properly and is often called a seizure
disorder.

 It is characterized by recurring seizures, which are spontaneous abnormal discharge of

electrical impulses of the brain.

 Fortunately, once epilepsy is diagnosed, it can usually be controlled with medication and
does not interfere with performance in school.

 Most individuals with epilepsy have normal intelligence.

 Spinal cord injury:- is a birth defect of the backbone (spinal column).

 The cause is unknown but it usually occurs in the first 26 days of pregnancy.

II. Muscular-skeletal system ( the muscles, bones and joints) are deficient due to various
causes. The muscles and their supporting framework and the skeleton. Progressive muscle
weakness (muscular dystrophy);

 Loss of various parts of the body (amputation) Like:

A. Muscular dystrophy:- is an inherited condition accruing mainly in males, in which the muscles
weaken and deteriorate. The weakness usually appears around 3 to 4 years of age

B. Arthritis:-is an inflammation of the joints. Symptoms include swollen and stiff joints, fever, and
pain in the joints during acute periods. deformities that can eventually affect mobility.

C. Amputation:- a small number of children have missing limbs because of congenital

abnormalities or injury or disease (malignant bone tumors in the limbs); and others

Impairment and associated with musculoskeletal malformation

i. Muscular dystrophy:- is an inherited condition accruing mainly in males, the muscles

weaken and deteriorate.

• The weakness usually appears around 3 to 4 years of age and worsens progressively.

• By age 11 most victims can to longer walk (Death comes 25 and 35 from respiratory failure
or cardiac arrest). .
 ii. Arthritis:-is an inflammation of the joints.

 Symptoms include swollen and stiff joints, fever, and pain in the joints during acute
periods.

 Prolonged inflammation can lead joint deformities that can eventually affect mobility.

 Amputation:- a small number of children have missing limbs because of congenital

abnormalities or injury or disease (malignant bone tumors in the limbs).

 These children can use customized prosthetic devices (artificial hands, arms, or legs) to
replace limp functions and increase independence in daily activities.

D.Marfan syndrome:- is a genetic disorder in which the muscles are poorly developed and the spine
is curved.

• The heart and blood vessels are usually affected.

• Individuals with marfan syndrome need to avoid heavy exercise and lifting heavy objects.

E.Achondroplasias:- is a genetic disorder

 that affects 1 in 10,000 births.

• Children with this disorder usually

 develop a normal trunk but have a straight upper back and a curved lower back (sway
back).

• These children are at risk of sudden deathduring sleep from compression of the spinal cord
interfering with their breathing.

 The disability may be lessened through the use of the back braces or by surgery.

F. Polio:- is viral disease that invade the brain and cause severe paralysis of the total body system.

 G. Club foot:- is a major orthopedic problem affecting about 9,000 infants each year. This
term is used to describe various ankle or foot deformities, i.e.

 Twisting inward (equino varus), the most severe form

 Sharply angled at the heel (calcanel ), most common

 The front part of the foot turned inward.

 These conditions can be treated with physical therapy more severe cases, surgery is
necessary

H. Cleft lip and cleft palate:- are openings in the lip or roof of the mouth, respectively, that fail to
close before birth, the cause is unknown.

 Most cleft problems can be repaired through surgery.

 Health Impairments

a. Heart disease:- caused by improper circulation of blood by the heart some of the disorders
are congenital (present at birth); others are the product of inflammatory heart disease.
Some students have heart value disorders; others have disorders of the blood vessels.

b. Cystic fibrosis:- is a hereditary disease that affects the lungs and pancreas.

• It leads to recurrent respiratory and digestive problems including abnormal amounts of

thick mucus, sweet and saliva. The disease is so progressive and few who have beyond
age 20.

• It survive Children with such disease often

 spend significant timeout of school.

c. Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)

d. Hemophilia:- hereditary disease in which the blood clots very slowly/not all. The disorder
is transmitted by sex-linked recessive gene and nearly always occurs in males.

e. Asthma: is a chronic respiratory condition characterized by repealed explode of breathing

difficulties especially while exhaling.

f. Diabetes: developmental or hereditary disorder characterized by inadequate secretion or

use of insulin

g. Nephrosis & Nephritis Kidney disorders or diseases caused by infections, poisoning, burns,
accidents or other diseases

h. Tuberculosis:- infectious disease that commonly affects the lungs and may affect other
tissues of the body.

i. Cancer:- abnormal growth of cells that can affect any organ system

j. Sickle-cell anemia:- hereditary and chronic blood disease characterized by red blood cells
that are distorted and that do not circulate properly

k. Leukemia:- characterized by excessive production of white blood Cells

l. Lead poisoning :- disorder caused by ingesting lead-based paint chips or other substances
containing lead

m. Rheumatic fever:- disease characterized by painful swelling and inflammation of the joints
that can spread to the hear and central nervous system.

9. Vulnerability (being at risk of being harmed) –It refers to the following dimensions:

1. Economic difficulties/lack of financial resources: poverty, low living standards, housing

problems (e.g. too damp, too expensive, too cold or difficult to heat) etc.;
 2. Social exclusion: limited access to facilities such as transportations, schools, libraries or
medical services;

3. Lack of social support from social networks: no assistance from family members,
friends, neighbors or colleagues (referring to practical help as well as emotional support)
like highly gifted individuals;

4. Stigmatization: being a victim of stereotypes, being devalued, confronted with

disgraceful behavior because of belonging to a particular social or ethnic group;

5. Health difficulties: disadvantages resulting from poor mental health, physical health or
disabilities;

6. Being a victim of crime: in family context especially of violence.

Principles for the inclusion of disabled children in schools
 Zero rejection
 All the disabled children have the equal right to learn and benefit
from education and co-curricular activities.
 It is the school which has to adjust according to the needs and
requirements of the disabled children.
 To provide for the training of regular teachers.
 To provide for vocational training suitable according to their abilities
at higher and senior secondary level.
 To promote awareness and realization in the community for the
education of the disabled children.

Causes of Vulnerability

 Rapid population growth, poverty and hunger, poor health, low

levels of education, gender inequality, fragile and hazardous
location, and lack of access to resources and services, including
knowledge and technological means, disintegration of social patterns
(social vulnerability).
 lack of access to information and knowledge, lack of public
awareness, limited access to political power and representation
(political vulnerability),
 Environmental vulnerability concerns land degradation,
earthquake, flood, hurricane, drought, storms, water scarcity,
deforestation, and the other threats to biodiversity.

Characteristics of Vulnerable/ at risk People

1. Less physically or mentally capable (infants, older adults, people

with disabilities)
2. Fewer material and/or financial resources (low-income
households, homeless)
3. Less knowledge or experience (children, illiterate, foreigners,
tourists)
4. Restricted by society to grow and develop according to their needs
and potentials
5. People who are helped by others (who are then restricted by
commitments) are still vulnerable people, which includes the
following extracted from various researches.

People who are helped by others called venerable people

A. Women: in developing nations and living in rural areas are

vulnerable for many backward traditional practices.
B. Children: are vulnerable/at risk (psychological and physical abuse)

C. Minorities: some people are vulnerable due to their minority

background.

D. Poverty: people are vulnerable for many undesirable phenomena.

E. Disabilities: PWD very much vulnerable for many kind of risks.

F. Age: old people or very young children are vulnerable for all kinds
of evils

G. Illiteracy and less education: People with high rates of illiteracy

and lack quality educational opportunities.

H. Sickness: uncured health problems for example people living with

HIV/AIDS are much vulnerable for psychosocial problems, poverty and
health

I. Gifted and Talentedness: gifted and talented children are

vulnerable for socio-emotional developments.

People who are helped by others called venerable people

A. Women: in developing nations and living in rural areas are

vulnerable for many backward traditional practices.
B. Children: are vulnerable/at risk (psychological and physical abuse)

C. Minorities: some people are vulnerable due to their minority

background.
 D. Poverty: people are vulnerable for many undesirable phenomena.

E. Disabilities: PWD very much vulnerable for many kind of risks.

F. Age: old people or very young children are vulnerable for all kinds
of evils

G. Illiteracy and less education: People with high rates of illiteracy

and lack quality educational opportunities.

H. Sickness: uncured health problems for example people living with

HIV/AIDS are much vulnerable for psychosocial problems, poverty and
health

I. Gifted and Talentedness: gifted and talented children are

vulnerable for socio-emotional developments. Types of MODELS
OF DISABILITY

 Medical Model: describes disability as a consequence of a health

condition, disease or caused by a trauma that can disrupt the
functioning of a person in a physiological or cognitive way. Describe
as disability as a condition a person has and focuses on the prevention,
treatment or curing of the disabling condition.
 Functional Model: Describe as disability as an impairment or deficit.
Disability is caused by physical, medical or cognitive deficits. The
disability itself limits a person’s functioning or the ability to perform
functional activities.
 Social Model – This model focuses on barriers facing people with
disabilities instead of concentrating on impairments and deficits of
the person with a disability. In this model a person’s activities are
limited not by the impairment or condition but by environment and
barriers are consequences of a lack of social organization.