Systemic disabilities are conditions affecting one or more of the body's systems. These include the respiratory, immunological, neurological, and circulatory systems. There are many kinds of systemic impairments, varying significantly in their effects and symptoms. Below are brief descriptions of some of the more common types.
- Cancer is a malignant growth that can affect any part of the body.
- Chemical dependency is considered a disabling condition when it is documented that a person has received treatment for a drug or alcohol addiction and is not currently using. Chemical dependency can cause permanent cognitive impairments.
- Diabetes mellitus causes a person to lose the ability to regulate blood sugar. People with diabetes often need to follow a strict diet and may require insulin injections. During a diabetic reaction, a person may experience confusion, sudden personality changes, or loss of consciousness. In extreme cases, diabetes can also cause vision loss, cardiovascular disease, kidney failure, stroke, or necessitate the amputation of limbs.
- Epilepsy/seizure disorder causes a person to experience a loss of consciousness. Seizures vary from short absence or "petit mal" seizures to the less common "grand mal." Seizures are frequently controlled by medications and are most often not emergency situations.
- Epstein Barr virus/chronic fatigue syndrome is an auto immune disorder which causes extreme fatigue, loss of appetite, and depression. Physical or emotional stress may adversely affect a person with this condition.
- Human immunodefeciency virus (HIV), which causes AIDS, inhibits one's ability to fight off illness and infections. Symptoms vary greatly.
- Lyme disease is a multisystemic condition which can cause paralysis, fatigue, fever, dermatitis, sleeping problems, memory dysfunction, cognitive difficulties, and depression.
- Lupus erthematosis can cause inflammatory lesions, neurological problems, extreme fatigue, persistent flu-like symptoms, impaired cognitive ability, connective tissue dysfunction, and mobility impairments.
- Multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) often results from prolonged exposure to chemicals. A person with MCS becomes increasingly sensitive to chemicals found in everyday environments. Though reactions vary, nausea, rashes, light-headedness, and respiratory distress are common to MCS.
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a progressive neurological condition with a variety of symptoms such as loss of strength, numbness, vision impairments, tremors, and depression. The intensity of MS symptoms can vary greatly from day to day.
- Renal disease/failure can result in loss of bladder control, extreme fatigue, pain, and toxic reactions that can cause cognitive difficulties.
Some Considerations
Students affected by systemic disabilities differ from those with other disabilities because systemic disabilities are often unstable. This causes a person's condition to vary; therefore, the need for and type of reasonable accommodations may also change.
Common accommodations for students with systemic disabilities include conveniently located parking, note-takers, extended time to complete a task, alternative ways of completing assignments, flexible deadlines, relocation of a meeting or class, early syllabus, priority registration, and exam modifications.
Instructional Strategies
Systemic disabilities often require instructional strategies similar to those listed for other disability conditions. The use of such strategies will depend on how the disability is manifested. If a faculty or staff member would like more information about instructional strategies for students with systemic disabilities, he or she should contact Student Disability Services.