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 		 Para eLink: Where Minnesota's Paraprofessionals Learn Online
 
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K1: Awareness of the historical origins, parameters, and current issues related to the classification of Other Health Disabilities.

K2: Awareness of the definitions and characteristics of the primary disabilities included in the OHD category (including acquired brain injury, asthma, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, burns, cancer, cardiovascular disorder, Crohn's disease, cystic fibrosis, diabetes mellitus, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, lead poisoning, migraines, neurofibromatosis, primary immune deficiency, sickle cell disease, sleep disorders, and ADHD).
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Summary

Other Health Disabilities (OHD) is a special education category. The OHD category includes a range of medically diagnosed chronic or acute health conditions. A specific health condition can adversely affect the student’s educational performance and academic progress. When this occurs, a comprehensive assessment can help the educational team determine if a student qualifies for special education services under OHD or another special education category.

Early intervention for children identified with health conditions needs to address educational performance and academic progress, the student’s strength, vitality, alertness, and endurance, ability to attend school/class, and the need to manage his/her health condition during the school day.

Paraprofessionals supporting students with health conditions must be familiar with how the health conditions impact learning and functioning and how they can best support academic progress. Paraprofessionals also need to learn how to provide accommodations, modifications, and specialized instruction to allow the student to perform within his/her capabilities and potential.

References  

Minnesota Association for Children’s Mental Health. (n.d.). Children’s mental health disorder fact sheet for the classroom: Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. St. Paul, MN: Author. Retrieved March 29, 2007, from http://www.macmh.org/publications/fact_sheets/ADHD.pdf

Minnesota Department of Education. (2007). Other Health Disabilities Companion Manual (Draft). St. Paul: Author. Retrieved March 29, 2007, from http://education.state.mn.us/mdeprod/groups/SpecialEd/documents/Publication/001683.pdf

Northeast Service Cooperative. (2006). Fact sheets. Mountain Iron, MN: Author. Retrieved March 29, 2007, from http://www.nesc.k12.mn.us/special_ed/fact_sheets/index.htm
 

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The Para eLink is sponsored by the Minnesota Paraprofessional Consortium, in collaboration with the Minnesota Department of Education, located at the Institute on Community Integration in the College of Education and Human Development at the University of Minnesota.

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