Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
Section 1400
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For more information on IDEA DISABILITY (UNDERSTOOD)
The 13 disability categories under IDEA by Andrew M.I. Lee, JD
The 13 disabilities (IDEA from UNDERSTOOD)
Specific learning disability (SLD)
The “specific learning disability” (SLD) category covers a specific group of learning challenges. These conditions affect a child’s ability to read, write, listen, speak, reason, or do math. Here are some examples of what could fall into this category:
Dyslexia
Dyscalculia
Written expression disorder (you may also hear this referred to as dysgraphia). SLD is the most common category under IDEA. In the 2018–19 school year, around 33 percent of students who qualified did so under this category.
Specific learning disability (SLD)
Other health impairment
The “other health impairment” category covers conditions that limit a child’s strength, energy, or alertness. One example is ADHD, which impacts attention and executive function.
Other Health Imparments
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
ASD is a developmental disability. It involves a wide range of symptoms, but it mainly affects a child’s social and communication skills. It can also impact behavior.
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
Emotional disturbance
Various mental health issues can fall under the “emotional disturbance” category. They may include anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and depression. (Some of these may also be covered under “other health impairment.”)
Emotional disturbance
Speech or language impairment
This category covers difficulties with speech or language. A common example is stuttering. Other examples are trouble pronouncing words or making sounds with the voice. It also covers language problems that make it hard for kids to understand words or express themselves.
Speech or language impairment
Visual impairment, including blindness
A child who has eyesight problems is considered to have a visual impairment. This category includes both partial sight and blindness. If eyewear can correct a vision problem, then it doesn’t qualify.
Visual impairment, including blindness
Deafness
Kids with a diagnosis of deafness fall under this category. These are kids who can’t hear most or all sounds, even with a hearing aid.
Deafness
Hearing impairment
The term “hearing impairment” refers to a hearing loss not covered by the definition of deafness. This type of loss can change over time. Being hard of hearing is not the same thing as having trouble with auditory or language processing.
Hearing impairment
Deaf-blindness
Kids with a diagnosis of deaf-blindness have both severe hearing and vision loss. Their communication and other needs are so unique that programs for just the deaf or blind can’t meet them.
Deaf-blindness
Orthopedic impairment
Orthopedic impairment is when kids lack function or ability in their bodies. An example is cerebral palsy.
Orthopedic impairment
Intellectual disability
Kids with this type of disability have below-average intellectual ability. They may also have poor communication, self-care, and social skills. Down syndrome is one example of a condition that involves an intellectual disability.
Intellectual disability
Traumatic brain injury
This is a brain injury caused by an accident or some kind of physical force.
Traumatic brain injury
Multiple disabilities
A child with multiple disabilities has more than one condition covered by IDEA. Having multiple issues creates educational needs that can’t be met in a program designed for any one disability.
Learn how to find out if a child is eligible for special education. When kids are found eligible, the next step will be to create an Individualized Education Program (IEP). For kids who are in preschool or younger, you may want to learn about early intervention.
