Unit 12 – Supporting Individuals
with Additional Needs
, Rebecca Brown
Rebecca Brown has Paraplegia due to her being involved in traumatic
car accident. Paraplegia is a spinal cord injury that paralyses the lower
limbs. Her condition is quite severe, which may cause many negative
impacts. Due to the accident, Rebecca has had to adapt to her disability
suggesting that she is both mentally and physically vulnerable, meaning
she is dependent on people. This may result in Rebecca having the
inability to cope with certain physical activities like exercising, walking
and dancing. This could mean that Rebecca is unhealthy as exercise
should be performed regularly.
, Physical disability
Rebecca became physically disabled at the age of 5 following a She was diagnosed with irreparable spinal cord damage by
serious road accident. Paramedics treated her at the scene and the trauma surgeon which meant she would be a paraplegic
took her to the accident and emergency department of a major for the rest of her life. “Paraplegia is caused by damage to
hospital. They checked her breathing while lifting her carefully the spinal cord at or below chest level, affecting the persons
into the ambulance. ability to use their legs.” Pearson Btec National Health and
Social Care Student Book 2 p227
Her symptoms included unconsciousness, concussion, difficulty
staying awake, swelling, blood coming from the nose and unable The diagnosis was based on a number of factors: the fact
to walk. that Rebecca could not feel any sensation in her legs,
physical examinations and the visual evidence of the x-ray
She spent a month in the intensive care unit undergoing x-ray and MRI scans.
scans and surgeries on her spine and legs. During her x-ray
scan, a picture was taken to identify broken bones and any The prognosis was that she would never be able to walk
spinal damage. This was performed by a radiologist using again. She is not referred to as a quadriplegic or a
radiology equipment. She was also given an MRI (magnetic tetraplegic as her upper body is not affected. The occupational
resonance imaging) scan to look at tissue damage and organs. therapist confirmed this by trying to get Rebecca to move her
limbs and stand up.
The first few days she was kept heavily sedated with morphine a
strong painkiller, and was lucky to stay alive. Morphine is a Once she could eat and speak again, she was moved to a
strong opiate drug used for those suffering intense pain. paediatric ward where she did daily therapies including:
She was operated on by the trauma doctors in intensive care to - Physiotherapy
try and straighten out her spine and close the fractures in her - Occupational therapy
skull. - Pain management
- Counselling
Source: Pearson Btec National Health and Social Care Student Book 2 p227
, Physical disability
Her family was shocked by this news and took time for it
to sink in. They all needed counselling to help them
accept the changes in their life.
Her twelve year old brother was particularly affected by
the incident and had PTSD. He remembers the crash
because he was in the car at the time. No-one has really
thought about how he felt because they were focusing
on Rebecca. He started misbehaving at school and got
detentions.
Rebecca was discharged from hospital a few months
later and missed around 5 months of school.
She had to adjust back to her old life and not being able
to do the things she used to do, like running, riding her
bike or having a bath.
Before she left the hospital she was shown how to use
her new automatic wheelchair which took a bit of getting
used to. She would have to rely of this for the rest of her
life as being paraplegic.
She will be able to continue her therapies at home with
lots of regular appointments at the hospital.
*Source: Pearson Btec National Health and Social Care Student Book 2 p227
with Additional Needs
, Rebecca Brown
Rebecca Brown has Paraplegia due to her being involved in traumatic
car accident. Paraplegia is a spinal cord injury that paralyses the lower
limbs. Her condition is quite severe, which may cause many negative
impacts. Due to the accident, Rebecca has had to adapt to her disability
suggesting that she is both mentally and physically vulnerable, meaning
she is dependent on people. This may result in Rebecca having the
inability to cope with certain physical activities like exercising, walking
and dancing. This could mean that Rebecca is unhealthy as exercise
should be performed regularly.
, Physical disability
Rebecca became physically disabled at the age of 5 following a She was diagnosed with irreparable spinal cord damage by
serious road accident. Paramedics treated her at the scene and the trauma surgeon which meant she would be a paraplegic
took her to the accident and emergency department of a major for the rest of her life. “Paraplegia is caused by damage to
hospital. They checked her breathing while lifting her carefully the spinal cord at or below chest level, affecting the persons
into the ambulance. ability to use their legs.” Pearson Btec National Health and
Social Care Student Book 2 p227
Her symptoms included unconsciousness, concussion, difficulty
staying awake, swelling, blood coming from the nose and unable The diagnosis was based on a number of factors: the fact
to walk. that Rebecca could not feel any sensation in her legs,
physical examinations and the visual evidence of the x-ray
She spent a month in the intensive care unit undergoing x-ray and MRI scans.
scans and surgeries on her spine and legs. During her x-ray
scan, a picture was taken to identify broken bones and any The prognosis was that she would never be able to walk
spinal damage. This was performed by a radiologist using again. She is not referred to as a quadriplegic or a
radiology equipment. She was also given an MRI (magnetic tetraplegic as her upper body is not affected. The occupational
resonance imaging) scan to look at tissue damage and organs. therapist confirmed this by trying to get Rebecca to move her
limbs and stand up.
The first few days she was kept heavily sedated with morphine a
strong painkiller, and was lucky to stay alive. Morphine is a Once she could eat and speak again, she was moved to a
strong opiate drug used for those suffering intense pain. paediatric ward where she did daily therapies including:
She was operated on by the trauma doctors in intensive care to - Physiotherapy
try and straighten out her spine and close the fractures in her - Occupational therapy
skull. - Pain management
- Counselling
Source: Pearson Btec National Health and Social Care Student Book 2 p227
, Physical disability
Her family was shocked by this news and took time for it
to sink in. They all needed counselling to help them
accept the changes in their life.
Her twelve year old brother was particularly affected by
the incident and had PTSD. He remembers the crash
because he was in the car at the time. No-one has really
thought about how he felt because they were focusing
on Rebecca. He started misbehaving at school and got
detentions.
Rebecca was discharged from hospital a few months
later and missed around 5 months of school.
She had to adjust back to her old life and not being able
to do the things she used to do, like running, riding her
bike or having a bath.
Before she left the hospital she was shown how to use
her new automatic wheelchair which took a bit of getting
used to. She would have to rely of this for the rest of her
life as being paraplegic.
She will be able to continue her therapies at home with
lots of regular appointments at the hospital.
*Source: Pearson Btec National Health and Social Care Student Book 2 p227
