OTHER HEALTH IMPAIRED (OHI)
Definition.
Other health impaired means having limited strength, vitality, or alertness including a heightened alertness to environmental stimuli, that results in limited alertness with respect to the educational environment, that –
(1) Is due to chronic or acute health problems such as asthma, attention deficit disorder or attention deficient hyperactivity disorder, diabetes, epilepsy, or heart condition, hemophilia, lead poisoning, leukemia, nephritis, rheumatic fever, and sickle cell anemia; and
(2) Adversely affects a student’s educational performance
In some cases, heightened awareness to environmental stimulus results in difficulties with starting, staying on and completing tasks; making transitions between tasks; interacting with others; following directions; producing work consistently; and, organizing multi-step tasks.
Eligibility.
(1) Evaluation for initial eligibility shall include the following:
(a) A medical evaluation from a licensed doctor of medicine. The evaluation report shall indicate the diagnosis/prognosis of the student’s health impairment, along with information as applicable regarding medications, special health care procedures and special diet or activity restrictions. The evaluation report used for initial eligibility shall be current within one year. In cases of illness where the student’s physical health and well being are subject to deterioration or change, this report shall be updated as frequently as determined by the IEP Committee.
(b) A comprehensive developmental or educational assessment to indicate the effects of the health impairment on the student’s educational performance. Assessments shall document deficits in pre-academic or academic functioning, adaptive behavior, social/emotional development, motor or communication skills resulting from the health impairment. When assessment information indicates significant deficits in cognitive/academic functioning, a psychological evaluation shall be given.
Placement and Service Delivery.
(1) A student meeting eligibility criteria as OHI and needing special education services may be served by any appropriately certified teacher in any educational program, as specified in the student’s individualized education program (IEP) Committee minutes.
(2) Special education services shall be provided to students with OHI on a short-term, long-term or intermittent basis, in classroom and/or hospital/homebound settings, based upon individual needs documented in the IEP Committee minutes.
(3) According to State Board Education Rule 160-1-3-03 Communicable Diseases, the local school system/state operated program (LSS/SOP) shall allow a student infected with a communicable disease to remain in his or her educational setting unless he or she currently presents a significant risk of contagion as determined by the LSS/SOP after consultation with the student’s physician, a knowledgeable public health official and/or a physician designated by the LSS/SOP (at LSS/SOP option).