Mobility Impairments

Some Considerations

• Mobility impairments refer to a broad range of disabilities which limit functions of moving in any of the limbs, or in fine motor ability. Common disabilities include arthritis, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injuries, cerebral palsy and amputation.
• When-talking with a wheelchair user, attempt to converse at eye level as opposed to standing and looking down at the person.
• If a student has a service animal, it is working and should not be petted.
• A student with a physical disability may or may not want assistance in a particular situation. Ask before giving assistance, and wait for a response. Listen to any instructions the student may give; by virtue of experience, the student likely knows the most safe and efficient way to accomplish the task at hand.
• Be considerate of the extra time it might take a student with a disability to speak or act.  Allow the student to set the pace walking or talking.
• A wheelchair should be viewed as a personal-assistance device rather than something one is "confined to." It is also part of a student's personal space; do not lean on or touch the chair, and do not push the chair, unless asked.
• Mobility impairments vary over a wide range, from temporary (e.g., a broken arm) to permanent (e.g., a form of paralysis). Other conditions, such as respiratory conditions, affect coordination and endurance; these can also affect a student's ability to perform in class.
• Physical access to a class may the first barrier a student with a mobility impairment may face, and this is not only related to the specific accessibility of the building or classroom. A lack of reliable transportation or mechanical problems with a wheelchair can easily cause a student to be late.
• Common accommodations for students with mobility impairments include notetakers or technology to assist with note taking, scribes, accessible classroom/location/furniture, use of access technology, extended time for testing.