Mobility Impairments
Mobility impairments range in severity from limitations on stamina to paralysis. Some mobility impairments are caused by conditions present at birth while others are the result of illness or physical injury. Injuries cause different types of mobility impairments, depending on what area of the spine is affected.
Quadriplegia, paralysis of the extremities and trunk, is caused by a neck injury. Students with quadriplegia have limited or no use of their arms and hands and often use electric wheelchairs.
Paraplegia, paralysis of the lower extremities and the lower trunk, is caused by an injury to the mid-back. Students often use a manual wheelchair and have full movement of arms and hands.
Below are brief descriptions of other causes of mobility impairments.
Amputation is the removal of one or more limbs, and is sometimes caused by trauma or another condition.
Arthritis is the inflammation of the body's joints, causing pain, swelling, and difficulty in body movement.
Back disorders can limit a student's ability to sit, stand, walk, bend, or carry objects. They include, but are not limited to, degenerative disk disease, scoliosis, and herniated disks.
Cerebral palsy is the result of damage to the brain prior to or shortly after birth. It can prevent or inhibit walking and cause a lack of muscle coordination, spasms, and speech difficulty.
Neuromuscular disorders include a variety of diseases, such as muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, and ataxia, that result in degeneration and atrophy of muscle or nerve tissues.
Common accommodations for students with mobility impairments include:
- Priority registration
- Notetakers
- Accessible classroom/location/furniture
- Alternative ways of completing assignments
- Lab or library assistants
- Assistive computer technology
- Exam modifications
- Conveniently located parking
Instructional Strategies
The following strategies are suggested to enhance the accessibility of course instruction, materials, and activities. They are general strategies designed to support individualized reasonable accommodations.
If the current classroom is inaccessible, arrange for a room change before the term begins.
If possible, try not to seat wheelchair users in the back row. Move a desk or rearrange seating at a table so the student is part of regular classroom seating.
Arrange early for field trips and ensure that accommodations will be in place on the given day (e.g., transportation, site accessibility).
Make sure accommodations are in place for in-class written work (e.g., allowing the student to use a scribe, to use assistive computer technology, or to complete the assignment outside of class).
Be flexible with deadlines: assignments that require library work or access to sites off-campus will consume more time for a student with a mobility impairment.
When in doubt about how to assist the student, ask him/her or Disability Services.
Allow the student the same anonymity as other students (i.e., avoid pointing out the student or the alternative arrangements to the rest of the class).
