Disability Fact Sheet - Other Health Impairment (Page 6 of 8) in pdf

Why aren’t these other disorders

medical practice, whole person

specifically mentioned in IDEA’s

orientation, coordinated care,

regulations? According to the

quality and safety, enhanced

Department:

access, and appropriate pay-

ment.

...because these conditions are

commonly understood to be

To find out more about this

health impairments...The list

approach to health care, and to

of acute or chronic health

connect with resources in your

conditions in the definition of

state, visit the website of the

other health impairment is not

National Center for Medical

exhaustive, but rather provides

Home Initiatives for Children

examples of problems that children have

with Special Needs. You’ll find the site full of

that could make them eligible for special

information and tools for health care providers and

education and related services under the

families, including a national medical home

category of other health impairment. (71

training curriculum and links to medical home

Fed. Reg. at 46550)

projects and activities in every state. There are also

materials in other languages for addressing health

Note that the Department uses the phase

care issues (Cambodian, Chinese, Korean, Laotian,

“could make them eligible”—could, not does. Other

Russian, Spanish, Vietnamese). Enter the site at:

aspects (adversely affected educational perfor-

mance, a child’s evaluation results, state policies)

are considered in determining eligibility for ser-

Another resource you may find especially

vices under IDEA, not solely the existence of the

helpful in addressing the health care and medical

disability or condition.

issues associated with an OHI is Family Voices.

Family Voices concerns itself proactively with the

Addressing Medical Issues

health care of children with special health care

needs. Through a network of state chapters, Family-

By their very nature, other health impairments

to-Family Health Information Centers, and politi-

involve medical care and medical

cal advocacy, Family Voices offers tools and in-

concerns. The amount of time that must be de-

formed guidance to professionals and families

voted to doctor visits, medical appointments,

alike. Visit FV at:

hospitalization, and seeing to the child’s well-being

will depend greatly on the nature and severity of

Life at School

the child’s health impairment. For many families,

the actual medical care of their child can be a daily,

Health impairments can affect a student’s

weekly, monthly challenge.

educational performance. In fact, for a child to

qualify for special education services in the public

How to deal with the medical side of things?

schools under the category of OHI, the health

This section of our OHI fact sheet will connect you

impairment must affect the child’s educational

with resources and wisdom within the health care

performance.

and parent communities both.

When a child is found to be eligible for special

The Concept of a Medical Home

education, he or she will also be eligible to receive

related services in school. Related services are

Recently, the term “medical home” has entered

provided as required to enable children with

the lexicon of health care. A medical home is not a

disabilities to benefit from their special education.

house, office, or hospital. It’s a team-partnership

Three related services in particular come to mind

approach to providing comprehensive primary

for children who have an OHI:

care. The principles of a medical home are well

stated by the American Academy of Pediatrics

(2007): personal physician, physician-directed

NICHCY:

Other Health Impairment (FS15)

Disability Fact Sheet - Other Health Impairment Page 6

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