Learning with Physical Disabilities

-Physical disability indicates any physical limitations or disabilities that inhibit the physical
function of one or more limbs of a certain person.
-Disability awareness reduces society's prejudices and opens up a world of opportunities for
everyone to contribute to building a just and inclusive society for everyone.

Visual Impairment
- It is any kind of vision loss, whether it's someone who cannot see at all or someone who
has partial vision loss.
Cause
● refractive errors-
● cataract.
● diabetic retinopathy.
● glaucoma.
● age-related macular degeneration.
According to the accessibility of eye care facilities, their pricing, and the level of education of the
populace, there are significant differences in the causes of visual impairment within and within
nations. For instance, in low- and middle-income nations, the percentage of vision impairment
related to an unoperated cataract is greater. Diseases like glaucoma and age-related macular
degeneration are more prevalent in nations with high incomes.

Congenital cataract is the most common cause of visual impairment in children in low-income
nations, although retinopathy of prematurity is more common in middle-income nations.
Uncorrected refractive error continues to be the major factor in both child and adult populations'
visual impairment worldwide.
Treatment
● Eyeglasses
● Contact lenses
● Eye drops
● Surgery
● Intraocular lens (artificial plastic lens)
Treatment may include eyeglasses, contact lenses, and eye drops or other medicines. In some
cases, surgery may be required. For instance, cataracts are often treated by removing the
clouded lens and replacing it with an intraocular lens (an artificial plastic lens that requires no
special care and restores vision).
Abilities and Strengths
● Sensory perception- The fact that blind people have other senses better developed is a
bit of a cliché. Yet anyone who has lost sight has to be able to rely more on other
senses. If there is no way to receive information through the eyes, they have to come in
a different way. A person who cannot see can then enjoy the taste of a meal, appreciate
a perfume, the texture of a cloth or the sound of music much better.
● Memory- This may be a drawback for many people, but the more we remember, the
more our memory skills evolve. This makes learning new things much easier.
 ● Imagination- mental imagery of things they touched or the way people describe
something but they can’t see.

Weakness
● Mobility
● Poor mental health
Depression is common in people with vision loss.Loss of vision has been linked to
loneliness, social isolation, and feelings of worry, anxiety, and fear.
Effects on student’s learning
● Poor reading comprehension
● Difficulties when participating in classroom activities
Guidelines in creating a safe and secure learning environment
● Well-organised classroom - free of visual and physical clutter. As a rule, avoid excessive
furniture, materials and equipment, but don't go to the extreme of having your room
resemble an institution. Be sure that the activity areas are well-defined.
● Selection and Adaptation of Materials- To use visual aids/resources that have been
prescribed ( glasses, magnifiers, big-print books, etc)
REFERENCES
GBD (2019) Blindness and Vision Impairment Collaborators; Vision Loss Expert Group of the
Global Burden of Disease Study. Causes of blindness and vision impairment in 2020 and trends
over 30 years, and prevalence of avoidable blindness in relation to VISION 2020: the Right to
Sight: an analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study. Lancet Glob Health. 2021
Feb;9(2):e144-e160. doi: 10.1016/S2214-109X(20)30489-7

Jonathan H. Salvin (2016) Visual Impairment https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/visual-impairment

Narmeen Shigri (2018) The Importance of Disability Awareness: Home and School
https://medium.com/arise-impact/the-importance-of-disability-awareness-home-and-school

Hearing Impairment
- It is the inability of an individual to hear sounds adequately.
Causes
• Injury
• Disease
• Genetic Defects
• Ageing Process
Treatment
• Removing Earwax
• Hearing Aid
• Cochlear Implant
Abilities and Strength
• Observant
• Attentive
• Know hot to do sign language
Weaknesses
• Having difficulties in communicating with others.
Effects on Students learnings
• Reduced academic achievements
Guidelines in creating a safe and secure learning environment
• A person who has hearing impairment should sit in front.
• The chairs in the classroom should be in a U shape or circle
REFERENCES
Danielle Inverso, AuD, PhD (2021) Hearing Loss Factsheet (for Schools)
https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/hearing-factsheet.html#:~:text=Kids%20with%20hearing
%20loss%20may,Minimize%20background%20noise%20when%20possible.

Mayo Clinic Organization (2023) Hearing loss- Symptoms and Causes

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hearing-loss/symptoms-causes/syc-
20373072#:~:text=Causes%20of%20hearing%20loss%20include,t%20send%20electrical
%20signals%20well

WorldHealthOganization (2023) Deafness and hearing loss

https://www.who.int/health-topics/hearing-loss#tab=tab_1

Speech Impairment
- A speech impairment is characterised by difficulty in articulation of words.
- A speech disorder is any condition that affects a person’s ability to produce
sounds that create words. Damage to muscles, nerves, and vocal structures can
cause it
Cause:
- Physical Impairment:
● cleft lip or palate
● vocal abuse or misuse
● brain damage due to a stroke or head injury
● muscle weakness
● damaged vocal cords
A degenerative disease, such as Huntington’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, or
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
● dementia
● cancer that affects the mouth or throat
● autism
● Down syndrome
● hearing loss
Treatment:
 ● speech therapy exercises that focus on building familiarity with certain words or sounds
● physical exercises that focus on strengthening the muscles that produce speech sounds
Characteristics of a student with speech Impairment;
Abilities and strengths:
● Creativity
● Communication skills
Weakness:
● Trouble understand or being understood
Effect on students learning:
● Difficulty following instructions especially if the instructions are only given orally
● Difficulty expressing themselves clearly
Guidelines in Creating a Safe and Secure Learning Environment:
● Creating a trusting educational environment that allows students to participate and
receive constructive feedback.
Summary:
Speech disorders affect a person’s ability to produce sounds that create words. They are not the
same as language disorders, which make it more difficult for people to learn words or
understand what others are saying to them.
Types of speech disorder include stuttering, apraxia, and dysarthria. There are many possible
causes of speech disorders, including muscle weakness, brain injuries, degenerative diseases,
autism, and hearing loss.
Speech disorders can affect a person’s self-esteem and their overall quality of life. However,
speech therapy, breathing exercises, and, sometimes, anti-anxiety medications can help
improve speech and reduce symptoms.
REFERENCE:
Jamie Eske (2023) Whatarespeechdisorders
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324764#summary

Multiple Physical Impairment

- This refers to a combination of disabilities causing severe educational needs.
Multiple disabilities can mean different combinations of disabilities an individual
could have.
Possible combinations of disabilities
● Visual – Hearing
● Visual – Speech
● Visual – Orthopaedic
● Hearing- Speech
● Hearing – Orthopaedic
● Speech- Orthopaedic
This disability category includes students with a combination of physical conditions which affects
the student’s ability to learn and access the academic and social opportunities in school. The
more severe the disabilities, the greater the effect on the student and the greater the need for
extensive, ongoing support and services. It is important to remember that abilities can vary
widely from student to student.
Causes
● Chromosomal abnormalities
● Premature birth
● Difficulties after birth.
● Infections
● Genetic disorders
● Injuries from accidents
Treatments
Therapies and surgeries
Assistive Technology
● Braille
● Eyeglasses
● Hearing aids
● Wheelchair
● Assistive cane
● And sign language
Physical and occupational therapy can help ease physical challenges, and this could help a
child’s ability to function at school. Assistive Technology, Braille, hearing aids and sign language
can be used to assist with communication problems and hearing and visual impairments. Hand
held personal computers with touch screens and audio and visual information containing
messages and instructions can be particularly helpful for children with motor control issues.
Physical therapy and orthopaedic support could also be necessary, to help with mobility.
Characteristics of a Student Having Multiple Physical Impairment
Abilities and Strengths
● Determination
Weaknesses
● Not be able to see objects at a distance, like on a whiteboard or blackboard
● Limited speech or communication
● Difficulty in basic physical mobility
Effects in Student’s Learning
● Lack of engagement in social activity
● Having trouble reading (or learning to read) and participating in class
● Hard time in performing activities due to musculoskeletal impairments ( missing arm or
leg, paralysis)
Guidelines in Creating Safe and Secure Learning Environment
● Build a wholesome bond with SpED teachers and parents
● Safe Secure, Resourceful Learning Area
● Building appropriate relationship for students
● Promote inclusivity
Teachers must continue to facilitate the implementation of the Inclusive Education Program
(IEP). They should build appropriate ways of developing relationships with children to recognize
their special needs and must have great bonds with their parents and also with the SPED
teachers. Adaptations, alterations, and modifications for students must be personalised to their
unique needs as well as their preferred learning techniques and interests. It is not always
evident what adjustments, accommodations, or adaptations may assist a particular student or
how changes to the curriculum, its presentation, the classroom setting, or student evaluation
may be applied. Creating a comfortable and safe learning environment for the children and
collaborating for an effective and efficient inclusive education.
REFERENCES
ARC | Advocating the Rights of Children

Multiple Disabilities. ( n. d.). Child Advocacy Network of Disability Organization.

https://www.arc.org.mv

Severe Multiple Impairments. (n. d.). Michigan Alliance for Families.

https://www.michiganallianceforfamilies.org