Special Needs Conditions
The term Special Needs includes children with physical, sensory, or cognitive impairments, as well as those with health care needs such as asthma and emotional health issues. The term Disabilities refers to physical or mental impairments that limit a child’s movements,
senses, or activities. Disability describes the person's limitation, their condition and inability;
while handicap refers to the impact the person's disability has on normal life activities.
Conditions Descriptions
1 Visual Impairment Ranges from total lack of vision to correctable vision
2 Hearing Impairment Ranges from total hearing loss to correctible hearing.
3 Learning Disability Average or above intellectually but has difficulty learning. Characterized by attention, memory, and perceptual problems. Difficulties with Language use, writing, reading
4 Neurological Impairment Neuromuscular disorder (such as cerebral palsy) or neurological disorder (such as epilepsy)
5 Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)
Inattentive, disorganized, off task; may be overly active and lacking in self-control
6 Orthopedic Handicap May have one or more missing limbs or limbs that do not function properly.
7 Speech and Language Disorders
Speech difficulty may be an articulation problem. Language problems include slow or delayed speech development, lack of comprehension, stuttering, articulation problems, etc.
8 Emotional and Behavioral Disturbances
Unable to adjust, unhappy, has behavior problems
9 Autism Effects communication, imagination, and socialization; child appear to avoid social interaction
10 Giftedness High intelligence and/or creativity and special talents
11 Cultural Differences Child’s culture is not the mainstream model
12 Environmentally Induced Differences
Abusive treatment, malnutrition, cultural differences
13 Intellectual Disability (Note: The term Mental Retardation is politically incorrect, hurtful and dehumanizing.)
Intellectual challenge based on multiple criteria, including IQ score, level of functional adaptive behavior (ie: dressing, toileting, feeding), and level of social adaptive behavior.
14 Polydrug (marijuana, alcohol, tobacco) Exposed (which refers to the use of combined psychoactive substances to achieve a particular effect)
Cognitive, motor, and perceptual deficits. Possible behavior problems. Central nervous system damage.
