Orthopedic+Impairments

Assignment Two C. Jovanovich

**Orthopedic Impairments**

__// Descriptions of orthopedic impairment categories, diagnostics, and needs: //__

When a student has skeletal system, bone, joint, limb, or associated muscle impairment that affects their performance in the school setting they fall into the category of having an orthopedic impairment. Students might be born with an orthopedic impairment or they might acquire one due to the effects of a disease or accident. Some example of orthopedic impairments would be Spina Bifida, Cerebral Palsy, Scoliosis, Muscular Dystrophy

The National Association of Special Education Teachers website describes many categories of orthopedic impairments. Included in their descriptions are links describing the needs of students with these impairments, and how it effects learning. Diagnostic tests used for of the different orthopedic impairments are also available at this website. @http://www.naset.org/orthopedicimpairment2.0.html

Another website that supplies general descriptions and transition services is sponsored by the National Association of Parents with Children in Special Education. @http://www.napcse.org/exceptionalchildren/orthopedicimpairments.php __// Description of specific accommodations: //__

Students with orthopedic impairments will have a wide range of difficulties. Difficulty writing, speaking, typing, and lack of mobility are some examples. Galivan College's website provides a description of accommodations and ideas to help with orthopedic impairments. @http://www.gavilan.edu/drc/orthopedic.html

//__ Assistive Technologies: __//

The following are websites that contain software or hardware that could be used to help with the accommodations for orthopedic impairments.

For students who have difficulties with fine motor skills a voice recognition program might be used to help with documenting their ideas and completing written work.

Software - Voice Recognition: @http://www.nuance.com/naturallyspeaking/

The following software is not specifically made for use as an assistive technology but as a math teacher it might be worth a look. Standard word processors do not work well for typing math problems. Mathtype is specifically made to be used with word processors to print math equations and symbols. The set up of Mathtype allows for typing with both the keyboard and using the mouse.

Software - Math specific equation editor: @http://www.dessci.com/en/products/mathtype/

The following two websites offer links and purchase of hardware that can help those students with orthopedic impairments.

Hardware - Mouse alternatives: http://www.indiana.edu/~iuadapts/technology/hardware/mice/index.html

Hardware: Mouth-sticks/keyboards: @http://www.maltron.com/maltron-kbd-mouth-head.html __//

Reflection after research: //__

In my 16 years of teaching I have encountered many students with orthopedic impairments ranging from Cerebral Pulsy to Spina Bifida. Looking back I now wish I had investigated the use of technologies in helping those students. Many of them had limited fine motor skills and allowing the use of computers with software and hardware specifically chosen to help them complete their work and assessments might have proven to be less limiting than using a scribe or trying to decipher their handwriting. I would like to think that finding a less time consuming way for them to present information to me or to take notes might have empowered them rather than discouraging them.