Students with Physical/Orthopedic Disabilities

Physical disability includes mobility, orthopedic or other health impairment. Mobility and orthopedic impairment involves a serious limitation in locomotion or motor function and other health impairment means a serious dysfunction of a body part or system.

Mobility impairments may necessitate the use of wheelchairs, scooters, crutches, braces, walkers or canes to move about; however not all students with mobility impairments require mobility aids. Some students who use wheelchairs are not able to walk at all while others are able to walk but use them to conserve their energy because walking is so strenuous for them. A major issue for those who have mobility impairments is physical accessibility to campus facilities. On balance, campus facilities must be physically accessible to all students and most are. If it seems that a student may have to miss a special meeting, conference or other such event with you because the location is inaccessible, please consider moving the meeting place to another, accessible location.

A variety of mobility related disabilities result from neuromuscular, and orthopedic conditions. These disabilities may be congenital or the result of accident or illness. They may include such conditions as spinal cord injury, paralysis, cerebral palsy, severe forms or arthritis, polio/post polio, spina bifida, orthopedic injury, amputation, cardiac conditions, cystic fibrosis, later stages of AIDS, and/or Diabetes, stroke and muscular dystrophy.