Special Education/Low Incidence: Other Health Disabilities

Other Health Disabilities

Criteria Resources Contact Manual

Other Health Disability (OHD)

“Other health disability” means a broad range of medically diagnosed chronic or acute health conditions that may adversely affect academic functioning and result in the need for special education instruction and related services. The decision that a specific health condition qualifies as other health impaired will be determined by the impact of the condition on academic functioning rather than be the diagnostic label given the condition.

Early intervention for children identified with health disabilities need to address inadequate academic progress due to limited strength, vitality, alertness, endurance, excessive absenteeism and the need to include individual health care procedures during their scheduled school day. It is important that staff be aware of how the health disability impacts on learning and functioning and to provide accommodations, modifications and specialized instruction to allow the child to perform within their capabilities.

Regional specialists are available to assist district teams by:

Classroom observation and assessment of students with chronic/acute health impairments.
Review of medical and educational reports and records to determine how and if health condition impacts on learning (often in coordination with school nurse).
Consultation on-site staff regarding strategies and accommodation options to improve function and reduce impact of health condition on learning.
Transition planning from one setting to another as well as transition to life after high school.
Attendance at IEP and related team planning meetings.
Child specific and general inservice to school teams.
Resource and material distribution to increase knowledge and awareness to school team regarding how health condition impacts on learning and functioning.
Educator network that meets four times per year.
Training to cooperatives/districts to increase knowledge and skills of building level staff on other health disabilities.

CRITERIA

http://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/arule/3525/1335.html

RESOURCES

Health Conditions – A partial list of health conditions and their potential educational implications are listed below.

Asthma

Brain Injury

Broncho Pulmonary Dysplasia

Burns

Cancer

Cardiovascular Disorder

Crohns Disease

Cystic Fibrosis

Diabetes Mellitus

Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis

Lead Poisoning

Migraines

OT/PT Manual

Neurofibromatosis

Primary Immune Deficiency

Sickle Cell Disease

Sleep Disorders

CONTACTS

            Regional Staff Contacts:

            Darwin Dyce
            SW/WC Service Cooperatives
            1420 East College Drive
            Marshall, MN 56258
            Phone: 507.537.2287
            Fax: 507.537.7327
            Email: darwin.dyce@swsc.org

            Richard Branting (Red Rock Ridge & Crow River Coop Area)
            SW/WC Service Cooperatives
            1420 East College Drive
            Marshall, MN 56258
            Phone: 507.537.2288
            Fax: 507.537.7327
            Email: richard.branting@swsc.org

            State Contact:

            Jean Davis
            Region 10 Special Education Projects
            ESC Building
            334 16^th St. SE
            Rochester, MN 55904
            Phone: 507.287.1346 or 507.285.8738
            Fax: 507.285.8478
            Email: jedavis@rochester.k12.mn.us

            State DAPE Contact:

            Bruce Suneson
            DAPE Consultant
            Metro ECSU
            4001 Stinson Blvd. NE, Suite 304
            Minneapolis, MN 55421
            Phone: 612.638.1538
            Fax: 612.638.1548
            Email: bsuneson@ecsu.k12.mn.us