ABSTRACT
This chapter will consider the most common disabling conditions the teacher is likely to come across in the mainstream classroom. It is important to remember that each child is an individual. Both Ben and Emma may have ‘Cerebral palsy’ or ‘Spina bifida’ (defined in the next section) written in their medical notes but this does not mean to say that their physical difficulties or ability to learn will be the same. Upon meeting Ben and Emma, the teacher will need to decide whether they are ‘impaired’, ‘disabled’ or ‘handicapped’. Any of these terms might apply in varying degrees to certain aspects of their daily life.
