INFORMATION ON SPECIFIC DISABILITIES

FREE FACT SHEETS ON SPECIFIC DISABILITIES

in the Virtual Library from Spirit Lake Consulting, Inc.

The National Dissemination Center of the Office of Special Education Programs has a long name but provides short, readable discussions on a variety of disabilities. The Administration on Aging has also given us their kind permission to reproduce their materials, as have several other kind individual authors.

• Alzheimer's Disease - older people are sometimes afraid of losing their memory and mental ability. When a parent is having problems, children often don't know how to help. This site from the National Institute on Aging explains what you need to know.
• Arthritis -
• Asperger's Syndrome - Children have difficulty with social skills and organization. They may be strong in some subject areas and very weak in others. They have trouble making friends and in understanding non-verbal behavior. (Copyright owner: Barbara L. Kirby and the OASIS (Online Asperger Syndrome Information and Support) Web site at www.aspergersyndrome.org -Ms. Kirby is also co-author of The OASIS Guide To Asperger Syndrome, available from Crown Books.
• Autism and other pervasive developmental disorders defined under Individuals with Disabilities Education Act as “a developmental disability significantly affecting verbal and nonverbal communication and social interaction, usually evident before age 3, that adversely affects a child’s educational performance. Other characteristics often associated with autism are engagement in repetitive activities and stereotyped movements, resistance to environmental change or change in daily routines, and unusual responses to sensory experiences.”
• Blindness/Visual Impairment
• Down syndrome - this fact sheet has important advice for family members.
• Cerebral Palsy is a weakness or problem with the muscles caused by an injury to the brain. It may make it difficult for a person to sit straight or walk.
• Epilepsy is a seizure disorder which may be a disability in its own right and also often occurs with other disabilities such as mental retardation and cerebral palsy.
• Mental retardation- if you need to explain mental retardation to other students, family members or new staff, this fact sheet is terrific. Especially worthwhile are its tips for parents and tips for teachers.