A child is eligible for an IEP if they meet the criteria for one of 13 eligibility categories and if they cannot make adequate progress in school without special education services. Orthopedic Impairment (OI) is a physical disability that requires special education services and supports in order to make academic progress.
The IDEA category of orthopedic impairments refers to a wide variety of disabilities. These can be divided into three main areas: neuro-motor impairments (cerebral palsy, spina bifida), degenerative diseases (muscular dystrophy), and musculoskeletal disorders (rheumatoid arthritis).
Under IDEA, OI means, “A severe orthopedic impairment that adversely affects a child’s educational performance.” The term includes impairments caused by a congenital anomaly, impairments caused by disease (e.g., poliomyelitis, bone tuberculosis), and impairments from other causes (e.g., CP, amputations, and fractures or burns that cause contractures). It refers to a physical disability that significantly affects a student’s ability to move or perform daily tasks at school. It includes conditions impacting the skeletal, muscular, or neuromuscular systems.
OI can stem from a condition a student is born with or one that develops due to illness or injury.
Some well-known types of OI include:
For more information, see our full article Orthopedic Impairment (OI) 101.
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