An orthopedic impairment is the most common physical impairment. A physical disability is any condition that interferes with the way a child uses their body. An orthopedic disability is defined as “a bodily impairment severe enough to negatively affect a child's academic performance” (education). Orthopedic deficiencies are often divided into three main categories. These categories are neuromotor impairments, musculoskeletal disorders and degenerative diseases. Although neuromotor impairments typically affect the brain and spinal cord, they can also affect a child's ability to move, use, feel, or control parts of their body. Musculoskeletal disorders include diseases of the bones and muscles, such as limb deficiency or clubfoot. Degenerative diseases affect a child's motor skills, such as muscular dystrophy. This is a group of genetic diseases in which muscle fibers are very vulnerable to damage. Some causes of orthopedic deficiencies can be genetics, injuries, birth defects, illnesses, burns, fractures, cerebral palsy and many other circumstances. Some examples of orthopedic deficiencies that may be caused by a birth defect are clubfoot, spina bifida, and the absence or malformation of one or more limbs. Some examples that can be caused by disease include muscular dystrophy, arthritis, and childhood obesity. Other causes of orthopedic impairment may include fractures, which cause stiff and/or immobile joints called contractures. Evaluating a child for an orthopedic disability can be difficult because there are many different forms to look for. Most deficiencies are recognized before the child enters school, but sometimes the signs go unnoticed. To start the process of getting a license diagnosis...... middle of paper ......with your child at home. Above all, you must be patient, loving and kind. Your child is already going through enough; they just need your love and support! Having an orthopedic disability does not prevent a child from being everything they want to be. This might mean they'll have to work a little harder to achieve their hopes and dreams, but it will make it that much more rewarding when they achieve them. Many famous people have suffered from orthopedic impairment. Rick Allen, the drummer for Def Leppard, Hank William's, an American country singer, Roy Campanella, a major league baseball player, Jean Driscoll, an eight-time winner of the Boston Marathon, and Stephan Hopkins, a signer of the Declaration of Independence of the United States. suffered from some form of orthopedic impairment. Having a disability doesn't have to be entirely negative, you can still do whatever you want!