Some mobility impairments are caused by conditions present at birth while others are the result of illness or physical injury. Injuries cause different types of mobility impairments, depending on what area of the spine is affected. Quadriplegia , paralysis of the extremities and trunk, is caused by a neck injury. Students with quadriplegia have limited or no use of their arms and hands and often use electric wheelchairs. Paraplegia , paralysis of the lower extremities and the lower trunk, is caused by an injury to the mid-back.
Students often use a manual wheelchair and have full movement of arms and hands.
Below are brief descriptions of other causes of mobility impairments. Amputation is the removal of one or more limbs, sometimes caused by trauma or another condition. Arthritis is the inflammation of the body's joints, causing pain, swelling, and difficulty in body movement. Back disorders can limit a student's ability to sit, stand, walk, bend, or carry objects. They include, but are not limited to, degenerative disk disease, scoliosis, and herniated disks.