|
Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
ADHD is a neurobehavioral disorder characterized by pervasive inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity and resulting in significant functional impairment.
For more information: http://www.chaddonline.org/chapters/chadd150.html
Autism Spectrum Disorders
Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are a group of developmental disabilities that are caused by unusual brain development. People with ASDs tend to have problems with social and communication skills. Many people with ASDs also have unusual ways of learning, paying attention, or reacting to different sensations. ASDs begin during childhood and last throughout a person's life.
For more information: http://www.asw4autism.org/
Blindness/Visual Impairment
Congenital or early onset blindness or vision impairment impacts upon early learning and development in a myriad of ways. Research has found that as much as 90 to 95% of early learning for infants and young children is visual. Children who are blind or visually impaired are the only children, who, during infancy, cannot "put their world together" visually. Without the ability to observe his/her environment, the infant or young child does not have opportunity for casual, incidental learning. The remaining senses do not automatically compensate for the lack of vision. For a child who is blind or severely visually impaired, a strong foundation for development requires the use of strategies specifically designed to address their unique learning needs. Delays in language development are common in blind and visually impaired children.
For more information: http://www.cbvic.org/
Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy refers to a group of disorders that affect a person's ability to move and to maintain balance and posture. It is due to a nonprogressive brain abnormality, which means that it does not get worse over time. People with cerebral palsy have damage to the part of the brain that controls muscle tone. Muscle tone is the amount of resistance to movement in a muscle.
For more information: http://www.ucpsew.org/index.html
Challenging Behavior
Many young children, including children with disabilities, engage in behavior that is labeled by adults as "challenging". Sometimes, this behavior is short-term and decreases with age and use of appropriate guidance strategies. Additionally, what is "challenging" to one person may not be to another. It is critical for professionals to be aware of and sensitive to how families, cultural groups and communities define appropriate and inappropriate behavior in young children.
For more information: http://www.pbis.org/main.htm
Cognitive Disability
Mental retardation is a disability characterized by significant limitations both in intellectual functioning and in adaptive behavior as expressed in conceptual, social, and practical adaptive skills.
For more informaton: http://www.arc-wisconsin.org/arcwisconsin/home/default.asp
Deaf/Hard of Hearing
Impairments in hearing can happen in either frequency or intensity, or both. Hearing loss severity is based on how well a person can hear the frequencies or intensities most often associated with speech. Severity can be described as mild, moderate, severe, or profound. The term "deaf" is sometimes used to describe someone who has an approximately 90 dB or greater hearing loss or who cannot use hearing to process speech and language information, even with the use of hearing aids. The term "hard of hearing" is sometimes used to describe people who have a less severe hearing loss than deafness.
For more information: http://www.cdhh.org/
Developmental Disabilities
Developmental disabilities are a diverse group of severe chronic conditions that are due to mental and/or physical impairments. People with developmental disabilities have problems with major life activities such as language, mobility, learning, self-help, and independent living. Developmental disabilities begin anytime during development up to 22 years of age and usually last throughout a person's lifetime.
For more information: http://www.dhfs.state.wi.us/BDDS/allstaff.htm
Down Syndrome
Down syndrome is usually caused by an error in cell division called non-disjunction. All people with Down syndrome have an extra, critical portion of the number 21 chromosome present in all, or some, of their cells. This additional genetic material alters the course of development and causes the characteristics associated with the syndrome.
For more information: http://www.dsaw.org/
Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a general term that includes various types of seizures. People with diagnosed epilepsy have had more than one seizure, and they may have had more than one kind of seizure. A seizure happens when abnormal electrical activity in the brain causes an involuntary change in body movement or function, sensation, awareness, or behavior.
For more information: http://www.epilepsyfoundationsewi.org/
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is a condition characterized by abnormal facial features, growth retardation, and central nervous system problems. It can occur if a woman drinks alcohol during pregnancy. Children with FAS may have physical disabilities and problems with learning, memory, attention, problem solving, and social/behavioral problems.
For more information: http://www.fammed.wisc.edu/research/news0602a.html
Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD)
All types of PDD are neurological disorders that are usually evident by age 3. In general, children who have a type of PDD have difficulty in talking, playing with other children, and relating to others, including their family. According to the definition set forth in the DSM-IV (American Psychiatric Association, 1994), Pervasive Developmental Disorders are characterized by severe and pervasive impairment in several areas of development:
- Social interaction skills
- Communication skills
- The presence of stereotyped behavior, interests, and activities.
For more information: http://www.chw.org/display/PPF/DocID/22121/router.asp
Sickle Cell Anemia
Sickle cell disease is a genetic blood disorder that damages and deforms red blood cells, leading to anemia and episodes of sudden, sometimes severe pain. The disorder affects millions of people throughout the world, and is particularly common among people whose ancestors come from sub-Saharan Africa; Spanish-speaking regions (South America, Cuba, Central America); Saudi Arabia; India and Mediterranean countries such as Turkey, Greece and Italy.
For more information: http://www.chw.org/display/PPF/DocID/21860/router.asp
Traumatic Brain Injury
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is caused by a blow or jolt to the head or a penetrating head injury that disrupts the normal function of the brain. Not all blows or jolts to the head result in a TBI. The severity of a TBI may range from "mild," i.e., a brief change in mental status or consciousness to "severe," i.e., an extended period of unconsciousness or amnesia after the injury.
For more information: http://www.chw.org/display/PPF/DocID/22525/router.asp
Other Health Impairments (OHI)
Diabetes, Asthma, HIV/AIDS, Lead poisoning,
For more information: http://www.chw.org/display/PPF/DocID/20020/router.asp
Glossary of Terms
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA, Public Law 105-17) is federal legislation that assures children with disabilities free and appropriate education, public accommodations, and services operated by private entities.
Early Intervention Services (EI or EIS) are designed to meet the developmental needs of children from birth to 36 months with disabilities in any of the following areas: physical, cognitive, communication, socio-emotional, or adaptive development. EIS includes the following services: identification, screening, and assessment; family education and training; home visits; special instruction; health services; social services; and assistive technology. Specialized service areas include speech-language, audiology, occupational and physical therapy, and health services.
Individual Education Program (IEP): is a written plan describing services, providers, locations, and goals for services and supports provided to the child in the school environment.
Individualized Family Service Program (IFSP) is a written plan describing services, providers, locations, and goals for services and supports provided to the child and family. The IFSP is prepared by a team that includes the infant or toddler's family and all service providers (including the child care provider). Services are to be family-focused and provided in the "natural environment, including home and community settings in which the infant or toddler with disabilities participate."
Natural Environments are settings in the community where the infant or toddler with disabilities might participate. Center and family child care programs are considered natural environments. EI services are to be provided in the child care setting "to the maximum extent appropriate . " Decisions about appropriateness are to be made by the IFSP team.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is federal legislation that extends civil rights protections to individuals with disabilities. Child care programs are affected by the public accommodations sections as well as the employment provisions. ADA applies to privately owned as well as publicly operated child care. Child care programs operated by religious organizations are exempt from some of the ADA provisions. For more information, call the ADA Information Line at 800/514-0301 (voice); 800/514-0383 (TDD).
Interagency Coordinating Councils : IDEA helps states develop and implement statewide systems of coordinated, comprehensive, multidisciplinary, interagency programs providing appropriate early intervention services to all eligible children and their families. States must bring together a State Interagency Coordinating Council (SICC) to design and oversee the state system. Similarly, local governments must have a coordinating council to ensure interagency collaboration at the local level (this is the Local Interagency Coordinating Council, or LICC.)
|