13 Legal Categories for Exceptionalities
Almost all general education classes include pupils with exceptional characteristics. Students with disabilities (aged 6-17) account for 11 per cent of the total school population. Of these students, three out of four spend all or part of their day in the general education class. For the MYP team to qualify a child for services, it must be determined that the student has one of 13 special education categories and must impair their academic performance. There are 13 different categories of disability, as defined in the Education of Persons with Disabilities Act (IDEA), under which children between the ages of 3 and 22 may be eligible for services. Andrew M.I. Lee, JD, is an editor and lawyer who strives to help people understand complex legal, educational and educational issues. If your child has problems at school, has social or behavioral problems, or if you suspect that they have one of the 13 special education categories, you can request an assessment. Some school districts require you to meet with your school`s Student Study Team (SST) before conducting an assessment. If your child is not eligible for services under idea, they may be eligible for changes under section 504 of the American Disabilities Act of 1973. The term exceptions in K-12 schooling refers to both disabilities and giftedness.
The Education of Persons with Disabilities Act `04 (IDEA `04), the national law that guarantees students with disabilities an adequate education, recognizes fourteen categories of disabilities. These are: There are 13 categories of special education within the meaning of the Education of Persons with Disabilities Act (IDEA). To be eligible for special education, the IAP team must determine that a child has one of the following options: The Education of Persons with Disabilities Act (IDEA) requires that public schools, special education and related services be provided to eligible students. But not all children who have problems at school are eligible. To be covered, a child`s academic performance must be “impaired” by a disability in one of the following 13 categories. To be eligible for special education, the IAP team must determine that a child has a disability in one of the 13 categories and that this must affect their academic performance: IDEA provides definitions of the 13 disability categories. Federal definitions guide how states define who is eligible for adequate and free public education under idea. The definitions are as follows:1.
Autism. a developmental disorder that significantly impairs verbal and non-verbal communication and social interaction, as well as hypersensory and hyposensory disorder, which is usually evident at the developmental stages and impairs a child`s academic performance. Other traits often associated with autism include repetitive activities and movements, resistance to environmental changes or changes in daily routines, and unusual responses to sensory experiences. The term autism does not apply if the child`s academic performance is primarily affected by the child with an emotional disorder, as defined in point 4 below. It also excludes Asperger`s syndrome and PDD.2. Deafblindness. simultaneous hearing and visual impairments, the combination of which causes such severe communication and other developmental and educational needs that they cannot be taken into account in special educational programmes only for deaf or blind children.3. Deafness. a hearing impairment so severe that a child is impaired in the processing of language information by hearing, with or without amplification, which impairs the child`s academic performance.4. Emotional disorder. A condition that has one or more of the following characteristics over a long period of time and to a pronounced extent that impairs a child`s academic performance:(a) An inability to learn that cannot be explained by intellectual, sensory or health factors. (b) Inability to establish or maintain satisfactory interpersonal relationships with peers and teachers.
(c) Inappropriate behaviour or feelings under normal circumstances. d) A generally common mood of unhappiness or depression. e) A tendency to develop physical symptoms or anxiety related to personal or school problems. The term includes schizophrenia. The term does not apply to children who are socially maladjusted unless they are found to have an emotional disorder.5. Auditory. a hearing impairment, whether permanent or fluctuating, that affects a child`s academic performance but does not fall within the definition of “deafness”. 6. Intellectual Disabilities. Significantly below average general intellectual functions, which exist simultaneously with deficits in adaptive behavior and manifest themselves during the developmental phase, which negatively affects the educational performance of a child. Each of IDEA`s 13 disability categories can cover a number of challenges.
The Specific Learning Disabilities (LTC) category covers a specific set of learning challenges. These conditions affect a child`s ability to read, write, listen, speak, argue, or calculate. Here are some examples of what might fall into this category: INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES: Significantly below-average general intellectual functions that exist simultaneously [simultaneously] with adaptive behavior deficits and manifest themselves during the developmental phase, negatively affecting a child`s educational performance. (c) Inappropriate behaviour or feelings under normal circumstances. (* Hearing loss is not the same as a hearing processing disorder) Have you ever left your school after an IEP meeting and wondered: Students with disabilities have the right to free adequate public education (FAPE) in the (LRE). A student`s special education services and supports, which may include related services, accommodations and changes, are described in their Individualized Education Program (IEP). SPEECH OR SPEECH DISORDER: A communication disorder such as stuttering, joint disorders, speech disorders or a voice impairment that impairs a child`s academic performance. The term does not apply to congenital or degenerative brain damage, or brain damage induced by birth trauma.
(Example: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) ORTHOPEDIC IMPAIRMENT: A severe orthopedic impairment that affects a child`s academic performance. The term includes impairments caused by a congenital anomaly, impairments caused by diseases (e.g., poliomyelitis, bone tuberculosis), and impairments caused by other causes. It is believed that a child who has vision problems has a visual impairment. This category includes both low vision and blindness. If glasses can correct a vision problem, it is not qualified. Having a disability is not enough to qualify for special education. Disability must have a “detrimental” effect on the child`s education. Special education allows your child to achieve academic success despite their disability in the least restrictive environment.
The federal law that governs the system is called the Education of Persons with Disabilities Act, or IDEA. IDEA entitles all children with learning difficulties to a free adequate education (FAPE). Examples of “suitable” programs include: If a period of disability is linked in the following list, clicking on the link will provide you with a fact sheet on that particular disability and other related information.