CONCEPT OF DISABILITY
- Disability is an impairment that may be cognitive, developmental, intellectual, mental, physical etc.
- It affects the everyday activities of the individual to a considerable amount.
- It may be present in an individual from birth or occur during one’s lifetime.
- Disability is an injury that restricts the functions or movements of an individual.
- It is the consequence of an impairment caused to an individual.
- Disability is a medical condition which does not permit an individual to perform any activity or movement in a normal way.
DEFINITIONS OF DISABILITY
- Disability is an impairment that may be cognitive, developmental, intellectual, mental, physical, sensory ora combination of these that restricts everyday activities and maybe present from birth or occur during persons lifetime.
- It is a condition in which a person experiences inability or incompetency in performing any functional work by the body.
CONCEPT & DEFINITION OF DISORDER
- Disorder is an illnes5s or dysfunctional factor that affect the physiology and or psychology of an individual
- A disorder is a problem for illness which affects someone's mind or body and interrupts then normal function
- It can be structural or functional or both.
- Structural disorder is visible some part or other part of the body is observably different from what is considered as physiologically normal. It can be physiological disorder that is disorders of mind.
- Functional disorder is less noticeable. In this disorder there may be disturbance in speech, understanding, behaviour, motor coordination, reaction time etc.
TYPES OF DISABILITY
A) PHYSICAL DISABILITY
B) COGNITIVE OR LEARNING DISABILITY
C) INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY
A) PHYSICAL DISABILITY
- This is a limitation on person's ability to perform physical functions such as walking, running, dexterity and stamina.
- Disorders such as breathing disorders, sleeping disorders, Visual impairment, sensory disability & motor disability are also classified under physical disabilities.
- Musculoskeletal disability which occurs when the person has a problem in bones or muscles are also classified as physical disability.
- Neuromuscular disability which is the result of an illness or a disorder of nervous system that causes muscle disorders is also classified under physical disability.
- There are many conditions such as spinal cord injuries, stroke, trauma which may lead to mobility and physical impairment such as paralysis.
- The inability to use upper or lower body because of paralysis, stiffness, pain or other impairment is known as physical impairment
- It may be the result of birth defects, injuries, diseases, age and accidents.
B. COGNITIVE OR LEARNING DISABILITY
- It is a mental disorder that creates hindrances or obstruction for an individual to store, process and produce information.
- This ability can affect an individual’s ability or capability to read, compute, speak and write.
- An individual with cognitive disability will have problem while assimilating, storing, processing and producing information, which may further lead to difficulties at performing motor functions.
- Cognitive disability hamper’s the individual capacity to acquire knowledge, pay attention, make judgements, coordinate their physical actions etc.
- It is a category of mental disorders that primarily affect cognitive abilities such as learning, memory, perception and problem solving.
- Cognitive disability is a term used when a person has certain limitations in mental functioning and in skills such as communicating, taking care of himself or herself and social skills.
- This limitations will cause a child to learn and develop more slowly than a typical child.
- Children with cognitive disabilities may take longer to speak, walk and take care of personal need such as dressing or eating.
The individual’s, who have this type of disability, usually have following symptoms:
i) Memory disorder: An individual who has auditory problems or difficulty in remembering something that he heard, said or saw before sometime.
ii) Hyperactivity: An individual with cognitive disability may not have attention for a long period. He finds it difficult to stay at one place.
iii) Dyslexia: An individual with cognitive disability may exhibit dyslexia. It means he may have difficulty in writing, reading, speaking, etc.
Cognitive Disability can be caused by
- Hormonal Imbalance
- Environmental Factors
- Malnutrition
- Physical Injury etc
C) INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY
- It is a disability characterized by significant limitations in both intellectual functioning and adaptive behaviour which covers many everyday social and practical skills.
- This disability originates before the age of 18.
- The child with intellectual disability have limitations in the functioning of mental capacity such as learning, reasoning, problem solving and IQ Level.
- Intellectual functioning also known as IQ refers to a person's ability to learn, reason, make decisions and solve problems.
- IQ is measured by IQ test.
- A person is considered disabled if he or she has an IQ score less than 70 to 75.
- Adaptive behaviour can be observed by monitoring child's social skills and comparing it with same age group.
CAUSES OF DISABILITY
1. ACCIDENTS:-
Road accidents, natural disasters, falls, wars, violence and conflict can cause people to lose their eyesight, hearing, Limbs or other parts of the body causing disability.
Sports accidents as in car or motorcycle racing may cause permanent disability.
2. INJURIES:-
Even in the field of games and sports athlete may fall and get injured which may result into disability.
Several Sports like bike racing cycling football horse riding car racing etc we see athlete getting severely injured.
3. DISEASES:-
Diseases such as Arthritis, cancer, stroke, diabetes etc also contribute mainly in long term disability.
These disease limit the ability to function properly and carry out day to day activities.
Besides causing physical disabilities disease can cause mental disabilities also.
Mental illness such as depression, bipolar disorder etc affect the brain and nerves and causes mental disability
4. GENETICS:-
Abnormalities in genes and genetic inheritance from parents and errors when jeans combine can cause intellectual disability in children.
Sometimes, diseases, illness, infections and over exposure to x-rays during pregnancy may cause genetic disorder.
5. IMPROPER PARENTAL CARE:-
It is important that a pregnant woman receives proper health care during pregnancy for a healthy birth.
Smoking, use of drugs, drinking alcohol can cause intellectual disability to the child.
Similarly infections during pregnancy and exposure to harmful chemicals can severely affect the developing baby.
6. MALNUTRITION:-
Malnutrition is a condition when children do not get proper diet and nutrition.
Infants are likely to develop long term disability if they are undernourished.
Malnutrition often leads to poor growth, underweight weak muscles fragile bones and low immunity in children.
It can cause physical as well as mental disability such as blindness, cognitive disability and mental disability.
For example Deficiency of calcium leads to malformation of bones;
Deficiency of vitamin 'A' can cause blindness in the children.
TYPES OF DISORDERS – ITS CAUSES AND NATURE
a) Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
b) Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD)
c) Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
d) Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)
e) Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OSD)
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- It is a group of behavioral symptoms that include inattentiveness, hyperactivity and impulsiveness.
- It is medical conditions that affects how well can someone sit still, focus and pay attention.
- The individual with ADHD have some problems focusing in some activities.
- A Child with this disorder faces extreme difficulties at paying attention and controlling his / her hyperactive behaviour.
- ADHD is a condition in which trouble paying attention and focusing on tasks, tends to act without thinking and has trouble sitting still.
- ADHD is found both in Children and adults, with varying symptoms.
- There are there major symptoms of ADHD
1. INATTENTION:-
- People with ADHD are easily distracted.
- They have trouble paying attention.
- It is difficult for them to focus on any one task.
- They are disorganized.
2. HYPERACTIVITY: -
- They seems to move around constantly even in the situations in which it is not appropriate.
- Children with ADHD have trouble sitting still for even a short time.
- Teens and adults often feels restless and fidget.
- They are not able to enjoy reading, listening or other quite movements.
3.
IMPULSIVITY
- They make hasty actions without first thinking about them.
- They may talk too laud, laugh too laud or become angry than the situation calls for.
- They can’t wait for their turn
- Teens and adults makes important decision without considering the long time consequences.
- They may spend too much money or change jobs often.
The various causes of ADHD are as follows:
a)
Genetic factors: It is not a disorder that passed socially from one person to another, but may be inherited from parents .If a parent has ADHD, child has more than 50% chances of having it.
b)
Brain injuries: Brain injuries during birth or thereafter and neurological diseases are also known to cause ADHD
.
c)
Low birth weight: infants born with low birth weight are more likely to develop ADHD.
d) Exposure to environmental toxins such as five levels of LED at young age may cause ADHD.
e)
Diet: lack of balanced diet play a significant role in causing ADHD. Artificial food colours and sodium benzoate have also been found to cause a ADHD.
Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD)
- Sensory Processing Disorder is a condition in which the brain has difficulty in receiving and responding to the information that comes in through senses.
- Sensory Processing Disorder may affect one sense such as touch, sight, taste or movement. It may also affect multiple senses.
- SPD is a neurological condition that exist when sensory signals don't get organised into appropriate responses.
- Normally our brain takes information through our senses i.e. smell, taste, look, touch and then process it into Useful information that helps us to lead a normal life. This is disturbed in people with SPD.
- Symptoms of SPD
- People with sensory processing disorder maybe come over sensitive or shows over reactivity to things related to his or her surroundings such as sound, touch or movement may be painful or overwhelming to them.
- People with SPD has poor Motor skills, uncoordinated movements, poor balance, poor handwriting skills etc
- People with SPD has poor neuromuscular coordination.
- Causes of SPD
- Genetic Factor: Studies indicate that children born to adults who have Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) may be at a higher risk to develop SPD.
- Low birth weight is also considered one of the causes of sensory processing disorder.
- Factors such as improper parental care during pregnancy or at infancy, brain injuries and malnutrition are also responsible for causing SPD.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
- Autism spectrum disorder is a neurological and developmental disorder that begins early in childhood and last throughout a person's life
- It affects how a person's acts and interacts with others communicates and learns.
- The disorder also includes Limited and repetitive patterns of behaviour such as spinning or hand flapping
- The term spectrum in Autism spectrum disorder refers to wide range of symptoms and sincerity.
- People with ASD might have problems with communication or has poor eye contact and lacks facial expression, has specific foods preferences etc
- ASD causes problems functioning in society, in school and at work or other areas of life.
Causes of ASD are follows
- Mothers exposed to high level of pesticides and air pollution may also be at a higher risk of having a child with ASD.
- Genetic mutations and differences have been found to result in ASD
OPPOSITIONAL DEFIANT DISORDER (ODD)
- Oppositional Defiant Disorder is a set or group of behavioural disorders called disruptive behaviour disorders.
- This disorder is a condition in which a child displays an ongoing pattern of anger, irritable mood, disobedient, hostile and defiant behaviour directed towards people in authority.
- The individuals affected by this disorder usually rebel, argue with adults, refuse to obey and are obstinate.
- All children are oppositional from time to time, particulartly when tired, hungry or stressed.
- They may argue, talk back, disobey and defy parents, teachers and elders.
- The child activities often disturbs his daily activities within the family or at school.
Symptoms of Oppositional Defiant Disorder
- Frequent temper
- Excessive argumentative behaviour with elders
- Often questioning rules
- Blaming others for his/her mistakes or misbehaviours
- Revengeful attitude
- Mean or selfish and hateful talking when upset.
- Performs actions deliberately to make people angry or upset.
The various causes of Oppositional Defiant Disorder are as follows:
a) Biological or Genetic factors: Children are more susceptible of developing ODD if they have a parent with a history of ADHD or ODD.
b) Psychological factors: Children may develop ODD if they don’t have a good relationship with parents or have neglectful parents or have the inability to develop a social relationship.
C) Social factors: Oppositional Defiant Disorder may be due to inconsistent discipline, divorce, poverty, the chaotic (confusion / disorder) environment in the family and exposure to violence.
OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE DISORDER (OCD)
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is a mental disorder where people feel the need to check things regularly, performs certain routines repeatedly to remove certain unwanted thoughts.
- The people with obsessive compulsive disorder are unable to control their thoughts or activities even for short period of time.
- Common activities include washing hands frequently, counting of things, checking to see the door is locked properly, etc.
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is a chronic or long term illness that can affect your life, relationships and limits your abilities to work at home or school.
- OCD is a type of mental illness that causes unwanted thoughts. To get rid of these thoughts, the person does the same task again and again.
- Disability etiquette are set of guidelines dealing specifically with how to approach behave with specially abled person.
Disability etiquette refers to respectful communication and interaction with people who have disabilities.
The rules of etiquette and good manners for dealing with people with disability are generally same as the rules for good etiquette in society
When talking with the person with disability we should speak directly to them rather than through a companion or sign language or interpreter.
When introduced to person with disability, it is appropriate to offer a handshake. People with Limited hand use or who wear artificial Limb may perform handshake.
Shaking hand with left hand is considered as an acceptable greeting.
- Explain before conversing with visually impaired
when meeting a person who is visually impaired, always explain or identify yourself.
explain yourself and others who may be with you.
when converging a group remember to identify a person to whom you are talking.
If you want to offer and assistance to person with disability wait until the offer is accepted then listen to or ask for instruction
- Don't touch or lean on the wheelchair
Don't push or touch a person's wheelchair.
Leaning or hanging on to a wheelchair is similar to leaning or hanging onto to a person and is generally considered as annoying.
The chair is believed to be the part of person's body.
Listen attentively when you are speaking or talking with the person who has difficulty in speaking.
Be patient and wait for the person to finish rather than correcting or interrupting them.
If necessary, ask short questions which are having short answers or nod or shake of a head.
Never pretend to understand if you are having difficulty in doing so, instead repeat what you have understood and allow the person to explain or respond.
- Use “people first” language which recognizes that individuals are more than their disabilities.
Advantages of physical activities for children with Special needs
a) Reduced level of anxiety, stress and depression: physical activities may help in reducing the level of anxiety, stress and depression of children with disabilities.
b) Improved social interaction: physical activities provide ample opportunities for improving the social interaction among children with special needs. Social relations are developed during involvement in physical activities.
c) Better emotional and psychological health: physical activities are beneficial for children with special needs because such activities improve psychological and emotional health.
d) Cognitive benefits: physical activities lead to cognitive skill improvement in children with disabilities. These activities allow them to discover and access strengths that cannot be challenged in the classroom setting.
e) Physical Improvements:- regular involvement in physical education and sports can help them to develop better motor skills and enhanced physical health that helps individuals to fight back against problems such as obesity, and the health complications that follow.
Participation in physical activities helps children with special needs to develop hand-eye coordination, flexibility, muscle strength, endurance, and even cardiovascular efficiency.
Strategies to make physical activities accessible for children with special needs
Adapted physical education is a specially designed program of physical activities for special category people like physically challenged, handicapped mentally retarded, blind etc.
Following are the strategies to make physical activity accessible for children with special needs
- Activities according to individual abilities :-
physical education programs for students with disabilities are specifically and specially design according to their abilities.
Equipments are specially design and modified according to the individual needs of children with disabilities.
The physical activity for disabled person should have simple and easy rules so that they can be motivated to participate safely and successfully.
- Participation under expert:-
Students with disabilities should always participate under experts observation with full safety measures.
If we want to make physical activities accessible for the children with special needs, we need to understand the type of disabilities of children and for this purpose complete medical check-up of the children is required. Because without a complete medical check-up, the teachers of physical education cannot come to know about the type of disability child is facing.
- Activities based on interests:
Physical activities must be based on interest, aptitudes, abilities, previous experience and limitations of children with special needs. The teachers of physical education should have deep knowledge of limitations, interest and aptitudes of children.
- Different instructional strategies:
A variety of different instructional strategies such as verbal, visual and peer teaching should be used for performing various types of physical activities. By this children get the opportunity to learn by their own and become independent.
