Other Health Impaired (OHI)
Students with health impairments are served by the Other Health Impaired Program
Other Health Impairment 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:
- Is due to chronic or acute health problems such as asthma, attention deficit disorder or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, diabetes, epilepsy, a heart condition, hemophilia, lead poisoning, leukemia, nephritis, rheumatic fever, sickle cell anemia and tourette syndrome; and
- Adversely affects a child’s educational performance.
The Role of the Behavior Intervention Specialist
Behavior Intervention Specialists assist children and adolescents from a behavioral perspective, complete functional behavior assessments and individual behavior plans. They work within the classroom to create and demonstrate effective intervention strategies for students with severe behavior problems, and provide cognitive restructuring for children and adolescents with behavior difficulties. Behavior specialists work in conjunction with the Intervention Based Assessment (IBA) Teams or with Individualized Education Program (IEP) Teams within buildings.
Their role often will focus on specific areas of a child’s need in order to be successful:
- Identify student’s target behaviors and complete a functional behavior assessment
- Assist in the development and implementation of individualized behavior plans that meet the behavior needs of students
- Collaborate frequently with parents and school staff regarding the academic, behavior and social/emotional strengths and weaknesses of the student
- Work in conjunction with regional supervisors, IBA teams and school psychologists
- Assist in completing referrals to outside agencies such as the Positive Education Program, Beech Brook, Education Alternatives, etc.
- Assist in developing and conducting behavior related in-services for teachers and staff
The entire infusion of services for students experiencing behavioral needs benefits the child in learning to live among peers, planning for and implementing future educational goals, living within the community and planning to become a contributing and active member of society.
In addition the Intervention Specialist also:
- Assists in developing an Individualized Education Program (IEP)
- Assists the general education teacher in meeting the specific needs of the student
- Identifies, procures, and coordinates appropriate supplemental educational materials and equipment as needed
- Provides information to school personnel regarding the needs of the student
- Provides assistance to the parent in obtaining information about the educational needs of the Other Health Impaired student
The Intervention Specialist routinely visits students and school personnel to implement necessary services. In addition, the specialist will work as an advocate for students and may access outside resources to further enhance teaching and learning within the general education classroom.
Contact Us:
Alice Krost
Manager, OHI
216.621.2133
alice.w.krost@cmsdnet.net
Lea Ogard
Behavior Intervention
Specialist, OHI
216.592.7290
lea.r.ogard@cmsdnet.net
Resources:
National Neurofibromatosis Foundation, Inc.
www.nf.org
National Hemophilia Foundation
www.hemophilia.org
The Perspectives Network
www.tbi.org
ADHD Living Guide
www.adhdlivingguide.com
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
www.CFF.org
Boomer Esiason Foundation
www.Esiason.org
Girls and Boys Town
www.boystown.org
Birth Defects Research for Children
www.birthdefects.org
Welcome to 4MyChild
www.cerebralpalsy.org
Additional Resources:
www.juvenilerheumatoidarthritis.org
www.tuberoussclerosis.org
www.health-center.com
www.asthma.org
www.crohnsdisease.org
www.cysticfibrosis.org
www.sicklecellanemia.org
www.renalfailure.org
www.lupus.org
www.hiv.org