An orthopedic impairment is the most common of physical disabilities. A physical disability is any condition that interferes with how a child uses his or her body. An orthopedic impairment is defined as “a physical impairment sufficiently severe to adversely affect a child's academic performance” (education). Orthopedic disabilities are often divided into three main categories. These categories are neuromotor disorders, musculoskeletal disorders, and degenerative diseases. Although neuromotor disorders typically involve the brain and spinal cord, they can also affect a child's ability to move, use, feel, or control certain parts of their body. Musculoskeletal disorders include diseases of the bones and muscles, such as limb failure or clubfoot. Degenerative diseases affect the 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 disabilities can be genetics, injuries, birth defects, diseases, burns, fractures, cerebral palsy and many other circumstances. Some examples of orthopedic impairments that can be caused by a congenital 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 disability 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 so many different forms to look for. Most disorders are recognized before the child enters school, but sometimes the signs go unnoticed. To start the diagnosis process, a license...... middle of paper ...... with your child at home. Above all you must be patient, loving and kind. Your child is already experiencing enough; they just need your love and support! Having an orthopedic disability does not stop a child from being everything they want to be. It may mean that they need to work a little harder to achieve their hopes and dreams, but that will make them that much more rewarding when they achieve them. There are many famous people who have had an orthopedic disability. Rick Allen, the drummer of 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 United States, all had some form of orthopedic disability. Having an impairment doesn't have to be all bad, you can still do anything you set your mind to!