A student must be assessed under the IDEA in all areas of suspected disability. Orthopedic Impairment or “OI” is one of the areas of eligible disabilities under the IDEA.
A student with an orthopedic impairment is one who has been determined to meet the criteria for orthopedic impairment. Orthopedic impairment means a severe orthopedic impairment that adversely affects the student’s educational performance. OI includes impairments caused by congenital anomaly; disease, such as poliomyelitis, bone tuberculosis; and other causes, such as cerebral palsy, amputations, and fractures or burns that cause contractures.
To assess for OI, the District or Campus Assessment Personnel will comply with the general evaluation procedures. See [EVALUATION PROCEDURES]. In addition, a student’s eligibility for an orthopedic impairment must include a medical diagnosis provided by a licensed physician.
If the District and/or the student’s parent suspect the student is exhibiting physical deficits characteristic of orthopedic impairment that adversely affects the student’s educational performance, the student may be referred for an orthopedic impairment evaluation.
District or Campus Assessment Personnel will comply with the procedures set out in state and federal law. See [EVALUATION PROCEDURES]. They will also obtain and review required information from a licensed physician(s) regarding the student’s medical diagnosis by requesting that the student’s physician complete the OI form and request that the parent sign and return the Consent to Release Confidential Information form so that the District Assessment Personnel can contact the student’s medical provider for information and/or questions regarding the information provided. See [CONSENT FOR DISCLOSURE OF CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION]. If the parent does not provide information from the student’s licensed physician or a licensed medical doctor, the District is responsible for obtaining such information at no expense to the parent. The District or Campus Assessment Personnel should first request this information from the student’s own doctor, but if the parent refuses, or does not have a current doctor, and/or is not responsive to the request, the District or Campus Assessment Personnel should contact the Special Education Director or designee for assistance in getting the appropriate input from a licensed physician. This may be accomplished by the District contracting with a licensed medical doctor, asking the parent to obtain the report and reimbursing the parent, or any other appropriate method to obtain the evaluation data at the District’s expense.
If the student does not meet the eligibility criteria for orthopedic impairment, or any other eligibility criteria under the IDEA, or does not need special education or related services due to his/her disability, Campus Personnel should refer the student to the Campus or District Personnel responsible for compliance with Section 504 to determine whether the student is eligible for accommodations or services as a student with a disability under Section 504.
Upon completion of the OI evaluation, each member of the evaluation team should sign the FIE. If the student is eligible for special education as a student with an Orthopedic Impairment, a Disability Report in this area will be completed.
The District will maintain documentation requirements of compliance associated with Texas Student Data System (TSDS), Public Education Information Management System (PEIMS), and State Performance Plan (SPP). District staff will provide training, with follow up, to ensure the documentation required is in place and compliant.
Notice of Evaluation
Consent for Evaluation
Referral Information
Assessment Plan
Consent to Release Confidential Information
ARD/IEP
FIE
Orthopedic Impairment Form and/or Physician Information
Disability Report: Orthopedic Impairment
Documentation from Licensed Physician
Orthopedic Impairment Evaluation
Documentation for the state in TSDS, PEIMS, and SPP
[DISTRICT FORMS]
Orthopedic Impairments - Project IDEAL
Orthopedic Impairment - SPEDTEX
Board Policy EHBAA; Board Policy EHBAB; 34 CFR 300.8(c)(8), 300.304(c)(4); 19 TAC 89.1040(b)–(c)