Disability Awareness

Fact Sheets

This section is to provide teachers with information about categorical disabilities. Keep in mind that each individual student is different and may not display all characteristics of their categorical disability.

Disability Categories as provided by the Colorado Department of Education:

• Autism Spectrum Disorder

• Deaf-blindness

• Developmental Delay

• Hearing Impairment, Including Deafness

• Intellectual Disability

• Multiple Disabilities

• Orthopedic Impairment

• Other Health Impaired (OHI)

• Serious Emotional Disability

• Specific Learning Disability (SLD)

• Speech or Language Impairment

• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

• Visual Impairment, Including Blindness

Additional Fact Sheets provided by Texas Association of Health and Physical Education (2004)

Precautions and Contraindications

Knowledge of precautions and contraindications to physical activities is essential.

• Precautions - existing conditions that may affect the students ability to participate in physical activity.

• May require additional consultation, such as contacting the school nurse, parents, PT or OT.

• Contraindications - activities/movements that may cause harm to an individual because of conditions related to their disability

• Contraindications may be permanent or temporary

• If a particular activity is contraindicated, alternative physical activities must be explored