In special education, OHI stands for "Other Health Impaired" and is one of the 14 categories of disability listed in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) . OHI refers to having limited strength, vitality, or alertness, including a heightened alertness to environmental stimuli, that results in limited alertness with respect to the educational environment due to a chronic or acute health problem. This can include conditions such as asthma, attention deficit disorder or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), diabetes, epilepsy, a heart condition, hemophilia, leukemia, kidney disease, sickle cell anemia, or Tourette syndrome.

To be served under the OHI category, the student’s health condition must limit strength, vitality, or alertness to such a degree that the student’s educational progress is adversely affected. Eligibility for special education services under the category of OHI is determined by a comprehensive evaluation by a multidisciplinary team, which includes one of the following: an orthopedic surgeon, an internal medicine doctor, a doctor of neurology, a pediatrician, or a family or other approved doctor.

When a child is found to be eligible for special education services, they will also be eligible to receive related services in school, which can be very valuable and relevant to the child’s needs. Related services are provided as required to enable children with disabilities to benefit from their special education. Two in particular come to mind for children who have an OHI: occupational therapy and physical therapy.

It is important to note that a doctor’s note alone does not guarantee a child an IEP or any accommodations or services. A comprehensive evaluation by a multidisciplinary team is required to determine eligibility for special education services under the category of OHI.