WHAT ARE PHYSICAL & MOBILITY LOSS/IMPAIRMENTS ?

Physical and Mobility impairments also called Physical and Mobility Loss or differences range from lower body impairments, which may require use of canes, walkers, or wheelchairs, to loss of upper body impairments that may include limited or no use of the upper extremities and hands. Mobility impairments can be permanent or temporary. A broken bone or surgical procedure can temporarily impact a student's ability to walk independently and travel between classroom buildings in a timely manner. Likewise, some students may be ambulatory with a walker for short distances within a classroom, but may need a wheelchair or scooter for longer distances. Mobility impairments can impact students in several ways. Some students may take longer to get from one class to another, enter buildings, or maneuver in small spaces. In some cases physical barriers may inhibit entry into a building or room. Accessible transportation may also be required for students to get to fieldwork sites. A mobility impairment may impact, to varying degrees, a student's ability to manipulate objects, turn pages, write with a pen or pencil, type at a keyboard, and/or retrieve research materials. Medical conditions such as Arthritis or repetitive stress injuries can impact fine motor abilities and decrease endurance for longer assignments. A student's physical abilities may also vary from day to day.

Sources: -http://www.washington.edu/doit/mobility-impairments - http://atlasofthefuture.org/project/exo-glove-poly/

FACTS

What causes Mobility Impairments? Many types of orthopedic and neuromuscular impairments can impact mobility and lead to Mobility Impairments.

What are the different types of Mobilty Impairments? Included but not limited are amputation, paralysis, cerebral palsy, stroke, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, arthritis, and spinal cord injury, Parkinson’s disease, any many more.

What treatment is available for Mobility Impairments? Regular Physical, Occupational and other Therapy (Constraint Induced, etc.) may make a positive difference.

REFLECTIONS First hands activity: navigating on a wheelchair while balancing cafeteria tray with play food on it from destination A to Z. Second activity: pull socks over one or both hands (make sure you can’t use your fingers to crab and place) and put together small puzzle pieces.

1.) How did you feel during this activity?

2.) What was the most frustrating part of this activity for you?

3.) How do you think you would feel if you had this challenge to face every day?

4.) Based on your experience in this activity, how would you interact differently when communication with someone who has a Mobility Impairment

RESOURCES

- Crutches, wheelchairs, gate trainer, walker, leg braces, arm/hand braces (AFO, EWHO), Exo Glove Poly, Kinesio Taping, Hyppo Therapy, Therapeutic Horseback Riding, and many, many more..

- Examples of accommodations for students with mobility impairments include but not limited:

• accessible locations for classrooms, labs, work sites, and field trips • wide aisles and uncluttered work areas • adjustable height and tilt tables • all equipment located within reach • note takers, scribes, and lab assistants • group lab or work assignments • extended exam time or accommodated testing arrangements • computers with speech input, Morse code, and alternative keyboards • access to disability parking spaces, wheelchair ramps, curb cuts, and elevators • course and program materials available in electronic format • When speaking with a student in a wheelchair for more than a few minutes, sit down or move back to create a more comfortable angle for conversation

- When handwriting is a challenge: 1. Allow him/her to use a computer instead of writing by hand - Many adaptive computer products allow hands-free computing. 2. Use lower standards to evaluate him/her work because of her writing difficulties - Do not lower your standards. An accommodation should allow a student to perform the essential work functions of a job, not waive them. However, be creative and resourceful in helping the student maximize productivity. 3. Send notes to him/her via email or post online - The student/employee may benefit from receiving notes and handouts in electronic form. You might want to provide this option to all staff. 4. Allow him/her to record lectures and meetings - The student may request that she be allowed to record meetings.

FAMOUS PEOPLE

- Stephen Hawkings World famous Physicist/mathematician and author of A Short History of the Universe Stephen Hawkings is considered as the greatest scientist of the twentieth century after Einstein. - ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis)

- Stephen Hopkins Member of the first congress 1774, in Philadelphia. Signed the Declaration of Independence – Cerebral Palsy - Sudha Chandran Indian actress and classical dancer. Sshe lost one leg in a road accident when she was in her teens. This brave lady dances with a Jaipur foot. She has acted in a movie on classical dance called “Nache Mayuri” and today acts in a variety of TV serials - Amputee

- Frida Kahlo Internationally renowned Mexican Painter. Most of her striking art reflects pain and sorrow. When Kahlo was six years old, she contracted Polio, which rendered her right leg shorter and thinner than the left. She became target of bullies due to her deformed leg. In her teens the bus she was riding got in an accident and she was left with three displaced vertebrae and life long pain and health complications. Some of her work can be studied in the Louvre, Paris/France. - Christy Brown Irish author, painter and poet – Cerebral Palsy - Dr. Janice Brunstrom Pediatric Neurologist and one of the top doctors and scientists in the nation – Cerebral Palsy - RJ Mitte Actor, best known for his amazing performance in hit show Breaking Bad, where he played Walter White’s son. – Cerebral Palsy - Josh Blue Winner for NBC’s Last Comic Standing in 2006. Best known for coining the term ‘palsy punch’ as part of his routine. – Cerebral Palsy - Gerri Jewell Was the first person with CP to be on a primetime TV show for her role on The Facts of Life as cousin Gerri – Cerebral Palsy - Thomas Ritter Attorney and former UCPA Board of Directors. Brother of actor John Ritter. Father, Tex Ritter, helped start United Cerebral Palsy Associations, Inc. - Thomas Ritter was born with Cerebral Palsy. - Michael J. Fox World famous Actor and Author, in 2000 he retired as actor and launched The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, Today the largest nonprofit funder of Parkinson's drug development in the world, the Foundation has galvanized the search for a cure for Parkinson's disease, and Michael is widely admired for his tireless work as a patient advocate http://listverse.com/2010/01/18/top-10-extraordinary-people-with-disabilities/ http://cerebralpalsyworld.com/cp_celebrities.aspx https://www.google.com/search?q=famous+people+with+mobility+impairment&ie=utf-8&oe=utf- 8#safe=active&q=famous+people+with+cerebral+palsy https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/02/24/how-stephen-hawking-survived-longer-than-possibly- any-other-als-patient/ https://www.michaeljfox.org/foundation/michael-story.html