ABSTRACT
An orthopedic impairment refers to a varied group of conditions with a wide variety of causes. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA, 2004) defines orthopedic impairment as a severe orthopedic impairment that adversely affects a child’s educational performance. The term includes impairments caused by congenital anomaly, impairments caused by disease, and impairments from other causes. Many times, children with cerebral palsy or other orthopedic impairments may have one or more limbs that are affected. A child who has quadriplegia will have four extremities affected, whereas a child with two extremities affected on the same side of his body is identified as having hemiplegia. Caregivers often focus on supporting children with orthopedic impairments on a physical level. The physical limitations imposed on the child often have an indirect impact on the level of social interactions that all children need.
