Other Health Disabilities |
Other Health Disability means having limited strength, endurance, vitality, or alertness, including a heightened or diminished alertness to environmental stimuli, with respect to the educational environment that is due to a broad range of medically diagnosed chronic or acute health conditions that adversely affect a pupil's educational performance.
However, medical diagnoses alone do not automatically mean a student qualifies for service under OHD. It has to be shown that the health condition is adversely affecting the pupil's ability to complete educational tasks in three or more of the following areas:
* Excessive absenteeism linked to the health condition
* Specialized health care procedures needed during the school day
* Medications that adversely affect comprehension, memory , attention, or cause fatigue
* Limited physical strength resulting in decreased stamina and decreased ability to maintain performance
* Heightened or diminished alertness resulting in impaired abilities (ex. maintaining focus)
* Impaired ability to manage and organize materials and complete classroom assignments within routine time-lines
* Impaired ability to follow directions or initiate and complete a task
If a student is eligible for special education and related services as Other Health Disability, any licensed special education teacher may provide instruction and service because there is not teacher licensure specifically designated to work with this population. There is frequent confusion over "who serves" and the answer is " we all do!" |