Links updated, July 2015
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), our nation’s special education law, defines 14 categories of disability under which a child may be found eligible for special education and related services. One of those categories is “Other Health Impairment,” or OHI, for short. Within OHI’s definition, numerous disabilities and medical conditions are explicitly named, including the focus of this short resource sheet: Heart conditions.
A Brief Look at Heart Conditions
It is nigh impossible to give a summary of the range of heart conditions that may cause a “chronic or acute health condition” as defined within IDEA. There are many resources, however, that you can use to learn more about the specific condition of concern or interest to you. We’ve listed several below to get you started in your information hunt.
American Heart Association
(800) AHA-USA1
http://www.americanheart.org
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/index.htm
Mayo Clinic
Look under Diseases and Conditions for comprehensive guides to hundreds of different conditions, not just those related to the heart.
http://mayoclinic.com/
The Heart Center at MedicineNet.com
http://www.medicinenet.com/heart/focus.htm