What is a Physical Disability?
Students with a physical disability have an acquired or congenital physical and/or motor impairment such as cerebral palsy, spina bifida, muscular dystrophy, arthritis, developmental coordination disorder, amputations, genetic disorders, etc. The disability may interfere with the development or function of the bones, muscles, joints and central nervous system. Physical characteristics may include:
- paralysis
- altered muscle tone
- an unsteady gait
- loss of, or inability to use, one or more limbs
- difficulty with gross-motor skills such as walking or running
- difficulty with fine-motor skills such as buttoning clothing or printing/writing
Alberta Education Code for Physical or Medical Disability
(ECS: Code 30; Grades 1–12: Code 58) A student/ECS child identified with a mild to moderate physical or medical disability is one whose physical, neurological or medical condition interferes with the ability to learn and requires modification of the learning environment. The existence of a physical disability or medical condition, in and of itself, is not sufficient for the student/child to be designated in this category. Further information regarding coding can be found here.
More information regarding children considered as students with special needs in Alberta schools can be found here.
ReferencesAlberta Education Special Education Coding Criteria 2012/2013: http://education.alberta.ca/media/825847/spedcodingcriteria.pdf
More information regarding children considered as students with special needs in Alberta schools can be found here.
ReferencesAlberta Education Special Education Coding Criteria 2012/2013: http://education.alberta.ca/media/825847/spedcodingcriteria.pdf