E55 Other Health Impairment (OHI) [Eligibility Category Bonus Series]

Other Health Impairment, otherwise known as OHI, is a difficult category to explain, especially because it tends to be a “catch all” category for any student experiencing lack of endurance (aka fatigue) or attention concerns (aka ADHD like symptoms).

Our host Beth Liesenfeld, MOT, OTR/L goes through each area of the Colorado State Eligibility checklist as an example to give you a general idea of what the school team is looking for in an evaluation to qualify under this category, as well as opportunities for parent advocacy to make sure your child is supported in every area of need!

Topics discussed in this episode:

• OHI or other health impairment overview
• IEP OHI eligibility requirement
• Where to find the OHI checklist
• Why it is beneficial for parents to understand the checklist
• Definition of OHI
• Missed opportunities for advocacy in the checklist
• Importance of having your own list of challenges for your child
• Where to receive testing for illnesses
• Justifications for specialized instruction

Links to resources mentioned in this podcast: https://www.cde.state.co.us/cdesped/sd-other

https://www.cde.state.co.us/cdesped/guidance_determiningeligibility_sped_students_ohi

If you need help finding your state’s definition or checklist, hop into the Facebook group and join us!

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