Categories of Disability in Federal Special Education Law 1

SPED/531 Version 2

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Categories of Disability in Federal Special Education Law

Research the federal special education categories in IDEA (Individuals with Disability
Education Act).

Complete the following chart about the 14 categories of special education. The first row has
been filled in for you as an example. List any references you used below the chart.

Federal Disability Alternative Terms (if Brief Description

Term applicable)
Specific learning Learning disability A disorder related to processing information
disability (LD) that leads to difficulties in reading, writing,
and computing; the most common
disability, accounting for half of all students
receiving special education
Autism Autistic Spectrum A developmental disorder that causes
Disorder (ASD), difficulty with social communication, as
formerly known as well as repetitive and restrictive behaviors
asperger’s (NIMH, 2018).
Deafness Partial to total inability to hear.
Developmental A disorder diagnosed in childhood when
Delay expected milestones of development are not
met.
Emotional Mental illness, An umbrella term for a range of conditions
Disturbance behavioral disorders which includes anxiety disorders, psychotic
disorders, depression or bipolar disorder,
eating disorders, obsessive-compulsive
disorder, and more.
Hearing Impairment Partial inability to hear sounds.
Intellectual disability Any neurodevelopmental disability that
leads to difficulty with intellectual
functioning, such as reasoning and problem
solving, to the extent that it impacts the
ability of the affected to meet sociocultural
standards (NIMH, 2018).
Multiple disabilities Having more than one of these categories.
Orthopedic Impairment of the musculoskeletal system.
impairment

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 Categories of Disability in Federal Special Education Law 2
SPED/531 Version 2

Other health Any health problem which may lead to

impairment limitations in a students’ ability to be alert,
strong, or responsive to stimuli.
Speech or language Language disorder A speech impairment is any problem with
impairment pronouncing words either because of a
stutter, raspy voice, or unclear speech. A
language impairment is any problem with
understanding, talking, reading, or writing
words. (ASHA, 2019)
Traumatic brain When a serious head injury disrupts brain
injury function (CDC, 2019).
Visual impairment Limited ability to see, including blindness.
Deaf-blindness Combination limitations in hearing and
vision abilities.

References:

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). (Accessed 2019). Speech and

Language Disorders [website]. Retrieved from
https://www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Accessed 2019). Traumatic Brain Injury &
Concussion [website]. Retrieved from
https://www.cdc.gov/traumaticbraininjury/index.html

Center for Parent Information and Resources. (2017, March 17). Categories of Disability Under
IDEA [website]. Retrieved from https://www.parentcenterhub.org/categories/

Center for Parent Information and Resources. (2017, Dec 6.) Emotional Disturbance [website].
Retrieved from https://www.parentcenterhub.org/emotionaldisturbance/

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) (2018). Autism Spectrum Disorder [website].
Retrieved from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/autism-spectrum-
disorder/index.shtml

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. (2015). Mental disorders and
disabilities among low-income children. National Academies Press.

Copyright © 2017 by University of Phoenix. All rights reserved.