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Special Education Categories Defined by IDEA

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IDEA

The Individuals with Disabilities Act defines the 13 eligibility categories of special education. To qualify for special education the IEP (Individual Education Plan) team must determine that the student qualifies under one of the 13 categories.

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Special Education Eligibility Categories

  • Autism
  • Blindness
  • Deafness
  • Emotional Disturbance
  • Hearing Impairment
  • Intelluctual Disability
  • Multiple Disabilities
  • Orthopedic Impairment

  • Other Health Impaired
    • Chronic/acute health problems that adversely affects educational performance
  • Specific Learning Disability
  • Speech or Language Impairment
  • Traumatic Brain Injury
  • Visual Impairment

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Autism

Definition:

A developmental disability significantly affecting verbal & nonverbal communication & social interaction.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) the term “spectrum” is used because disorders can range from mild to severe.

Characteristics:

  • A neurological disorder
  • Abilities range from gifted to congnitively delayed
  • Usually identified by age 3
  • 4:1 male to female ratio

Impact on Learning/Student Behaviors

  • Limited interests
  • Interfering behaviors: fidget/rock/make loud noises
  • Struggles to stay on task/inattention
  • Shouts out answers/lingers on topics
  • Unable to understand abstract ideas/non-verbal cues
  • Difficulty with noise or visual stimuli
  • Struggle with routine change/sharing/taking turns
  • Runs from stressful situations
  • Lack of reciprocal communication skills

Causes

  • Research suggests that Autism develops from a combination of genetic and/or environmental influences.

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Prevalence:

Estimated 1 in 54 children per CDC’s Autism & Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network (ADDM) & 11% per the National Center for Education Statistics.

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Blindness/Visual Impairment (VI)

Definition:

An impairment in vision that, even with correction, adversly affects a child’s educational performance.

Characteristics:

  • Any combination of vision impairment; not necessarily complete blindness
  • Abilities range from gifted to congnitively delayed
  • Rely substantially on hearing & touch for learning

Impact on Learning/Student Behaviors

  • Many students utilize the services of a Support Service Provider (SSP)
  • The more severe a child’s visual impairment, the more restricted their learning
  • Potentially impacts social & cognitive development
  • Listening & Touch are very important to learning
  • Unable to understand non-verbal cues
  • Requires Adaptive Technology to be successful

Causes

  • Research suggests that Blindness develops from a combination of genetic and/or environmental influences. (Vitamin A deficiency, birth defects, severe illness, injury, glaucoma, macular degeneration, etc.)

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Prevalence:

Estimated that visually impaired students under age 18 occur 12.2 per 1000 per the National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities.

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Hearing Impairment/Deafness

Definition:

  • An impairment in hearing, permanent or fluctuating, that adversly affects a child’s educational performance.
  • Hearing impairment so severe that the child is impaired in processing linguistic information through hearing, with or without amplification.

Characteristics:

  • Any combination of hearing loss; not necessarily complete deafness
  • Abilities range from gifted to congnitively delayed

Impact on Learning/Student Behaviors

  • Regular speech, language, auditory training from specialist.
  • Services of a sign language interpreter
  • Favorable seating to facilitate lip reading
  • Captioned films/videos
  • Cannot learn by listening as only blind students
  • Vision & Touch are very important to learning
  • Unable to understand verbal cues
  • May require Adaptive Technology to be successful

Causes

  • Research suggests that hearing loss/deafness develops from a combination of genetic and/or environmental influences. (Downs syndrome, Birth defects, head injury, Rubella, stroke, & many others.)

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Prevalence:

Estimated that hearing impaired students represent less than 1% of all students in special education per the National Center for Educational Statistics

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Deaf-Blindness

Definition:

Simultanious hearing & visual impairments where the combination causes severe communication & other educational needs that cannot be accommodated in special education programs solely for children with deafness or blindness alone.

Characteristics:

  • Any combination of vision & hearing loss; not necessarily complete blindness/deafness
  • Abilities range from gifted to congnitively delayed

Impact on Learning/Student Behaviors

  • Many students utilize the services of a Support Service Provider (SSP)
  • The more severe a child’s deaf-blindness, the more restricted their learning
  • Cannot learn by listening as only blind students
  • Touch is very important to learning
  • Unable to understand non-verbal cues
  • Requires Adaptive Technology to be successful

Causes

  • Research suggests that Deaf-Blindness develops from a combination of genetic and/or environmental influences. (Downs syndrome, Birth defects, head injury, Rubella, stroke, & many others.)

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Prevalence:

Estimated that deaf-blind students represent less than 1% of all students in special education per the U.S. Department of Education

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Emotional Disturbance (ED)

Definition:

1. A condition exhibiting one or more of the following characteristics over a long period of time & to a marked degree that adversely affects educational performance.

2. Schizophrenia is included. The term does not apply to children who are socially maladjusted, unless it is determned they have an emotional disturbance under Section 300.8 (c)(4)(i) of IDEA

Characteristics:

  • Inability to learn that cannot be explained by intellectual, sensory, or health factors
  • An inability to build or maintain satisfactory interpersonal relationships with peers & teachers
  • Inappropriate types of behavior /feelings under normal circumstances
  • General pervasive mood or unhappiness or depression
  • Tendency to develop physical symptoms or fears associated with personal or school problems
  • Abilities range from gifted to congnitively delayed

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Prevalence:

Estimated that ED students represent approximately 5% of all students in special education per the National Center for Education Statistics.

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Emotional Disturbance (ED) cont.

Causes:

  • Biological
  • Environmental
  • Combination of Biological & Environmental
  • Child Maltreatment
    • Physical Abuse
    • Physical Neglect
    • Emotional Neglect
    • Emotional Abuse
    • Sexual Abuse
    • Educational Neglect
  • Disorders
    • Anxiety
    • Mood/Depression
    • Oppositional Defiant
    • Conduct
    • Bi-Polar
    • Schizophrenia

Impact on Learning/Student Behaviors

  • Delayed emotional development
    • Lack of confidence
    • Withdrawn
    • Immaturity
  • Delayed/inappropriate behavioral development
    • Aggressiveness
    • Defiance
    • Self -injurious actions
  • Delayed cognitive development
    • Reading & Comprehension well below grade level
    • General learning difficulties
  • Each year half of the students in this category drop out of school entirely

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Specific Learning Disability (SLD)

Definition:

A Disorder in one or more of the basic psychological processes involved in understanding or in using language, spoken or written, that may manifest itself in the imperfect ability to listen, think, read, write, spell or to do mathematical calculations, including conditions such as perceptual disabilities, brain injury, minimal brain dysfunction, dyslexia, and developmental aphasia. Causes can be due to genetic and/or neurobiological factors

Characteristics:

  • May Impact
    • Reading
    • Writing
    • Oral Language
    • Math
    • Study Skills

Impact on Learning/Student Behaviors

  • Slower reading rate
  • Frequent spelling errors
  • Difficulty copying
  • Difficulty memorizing basic facts
  • Difficulty describing events
  • Difficulty in making fine distinctions of meanings
  • Difficulty telling right from left
  • Difficulty recognizing patterns
  • Example Disorders:
    • Dyslexia-difficulty reading
    • Dyscalculia-math difficulties
    • Dysgraphia-writing difficulties
  • Abilities range from gifted to congnitively delayed (Student may have difficulty in only one area & excel in others)

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Prevalence:

Estimated that SLD students represent approximately 33% of all students in special education per the National Center for Education Statistics.

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Intellectual Disability (ID)

Definition:

Significantly subaverage general intellectual functioning, existing concurrently with deficits in adaptive behavior & manifested during the developmental period that adversely affects a student’s educational performance. Causes can only be pinpointed 1/3 of the time & are mostly Genetic conditions.

Characteristics:

  • Struggle with overall academics
  • Struggle with attention & memory
  • Struggle to make generalizations
  • Trouble interacting socially
  • May take longer to learn to speak, walk, & take care of personal needs such as eating/dressing./hygiene.

Impact on Learning/Student Behaviors

  • Slower reading rate
  • Frequent spelling errors
  • Difficulty copying
  • Difficulty memorizing basic facts
  • Difficulty describing events
  • Difficulty in making fine distinctions of meanings
  • Difficulty telling right from left
  • Difficulty recognizing patterns
  • Example Disorders:
    • Dyslexia-difficulty reading
    • Dyscalculia-math difficulties
    • Dysgraphia-writing difficulties
  • Abilities range from gifted to congnitively delayed (Student may have difficulty in only one area & excel in others)

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Prevalence:

Estimated that ID students represent approximately 6% of all students in special education per the National Center for Education Statistics.

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Multiple Disabilities (MD)

Definition:

Simultaneous impairments, (such as intellectual disability-orthopedic impairment, or intelllectual disability-blindness) the combination of which causes such severe educational needs that they cannot be accommodated in special education programs solely for one of the impairments. Multiple disabilities does not include deaf-blindness.

Characteristics:

  • Hampered speech & communication skills
  • Challenges with mobility
  • Need assistance with everyday tasks
  • Student usually has medical needs

Impact on Learning/Student Behaviors

  • Children with multiple disabilities will typically share deficits in 5 distinct areas of development:
    • Adaptive skills
    • Motor skills
    • Sensory functioning
    • Communication skills
    • Intellectual functioning
  • Cognitive Level-Ability levels can vary widely
  • Medical needs-May require 1 on 1 teacher aide assigned
  • Alternate communication methods
  • Alternate curriculum materials
  • Causes are dependent on types of disabilities involved.

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Prevalence:

Estimated that MD students represent approximately 2% of all students in special education per the National Center for Education Statistics.

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Orthopedic Impairment(OI)

Definition:

Severe orthopedic impairment that adversely affects a student’s educational performance. The term includes impairments caused by disease ( polio, bone tuberculosis), congenital anomaly (club foot), & impairments from other causes (cerebral palsy, amputations, and fractures or burns that cause permanent deformity/distortion)

Characteristics:

  • 3 Main areas
    • Neuromotor Impairments-involves brain/spinal cord/ nervous system (cerebal palsy, spina bifida)
    • Degenerative Diseases-muscular distrophy
    • Musculoskeletal Disorders- juvenile rehumatoid arthritis

Impact on Learning/Student Behaviors

  • Specific impact contingent on the impairment, its severity, & individual factors.
  • Many students with orthopedic impairments have no cognitive, learning, language, or sensory issues.
  • Biggest Impact on learning is focused on accommodations necessary for students to have access to academic instruction.
  • Abilities range from gifted to congnitively delayed.
  • Adaptive/Assistive Technology
    • Speech recognition software
    • Screen reading software
    • Alternative communication devices
    • Specialized chairs, desks, tables
    • Specialized exercise equipment for PE

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Prevalence:

Estimated that OI students represent approximately 1% of all students in special education per the National Center for Education Statistics.

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Speech & Language Disability(SLI)

Definition:

A communication disorder such a stuttering, impaired articulation, a language impairment, or a voice impairment that adversely affects a child’s educational performance.

Characteristics:

  • Emerges at young age
  • Articulation disorders- errors in the production of speech sounds
    • Omissions- Bo for Boat
    • Substitutions-Wabbit for Rabbit
    • Distortions-Shlip for Sip
  • Fluency disorders-difficulties with rhythm & timimg
    • Stuttering
    • Cluttering-excessive fast & jerky speech

  • Voice disorders –characterized by abnormal production and/or absences of vocal quality, pitch, loudness, resonance, and/or duration.
  • Language Impairments/disorders
    • Phonological-abnormal organization (Apraxia)
    • Morphological-difficulties with inflections on nouns, verbs, & adjectives that signal different kinds of meanings
    • Semantic-poor vocabulary, inappropriate word use, difficulty with multiple word meanings
    • Syntatical-difficulty in word order such as subject-verb agreement
    • Pragmatic-difficulties in understanding & using language in different social contexts.

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Prevalence:

Estimated that SLI students represent approximately 19% of all students in special education per the National Center for Education Statistics.

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Speech & Language Disability(SLI)cont.

Impact on Learning/Student Behaviors

  • Problems with communication- oral motor function
  • Difficulties with comprehension
  • Difficulties being understood
  • Difficulties expressing needs, ideas or information
  • May struggle with social interaction
    • Isolation from peers due to lack of acceptance
  • Techer actions:
    • Capitalize on student’s strengths frequently
    • Avoid correcting speech difficulties
    • Work closely with speech/language pathologist to support the student

Assistive Technology for SLI

  • Computer software packages available to develop speech & language skills
  • Use of Augmentative or Alternative Communication (AAC)
    • Use of symbols, aids, strategies/techniques to enhance communication
    • Non-electronic communication boards
    • Electronic communication boards-can use keyboard & synthesized speech

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Other Health Impairment(OHI)

Definition:

Having limited strength, vitality, or alertness, including a heightened alertness to environmental stimuli, that results in limited alertness with respect to the educational environment, that is due to chronic or acute health problems & adversely affects a child’s educational performance

    • Asthma
    • Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)
    • Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
    • Diabetes
    • Epilepsy
    • Heart Condition
    • Hemophilia / Leukemia
    • Sickle Cell Anemia
    • Lupus Nephritis
    • Rheumatic Fever
    • Tourette Syndrom

Characteristics:

  • Fatigue
  • Mobility Issues
  • Coordination difficulties
  • Muscle Weakness
  • Lack of Stamina
  • Frequent absences or tardies
  • Inability to concentrate and/or difficulty sitting still (ADD & ADHD)
    • ADD-characterized by a short attention span & impulsive, inappropriate behavior for child’s age
    • ADHD-characterized by symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and/or impulsivity.
    • Frequently observed in students with learning disabilities.

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Prevalence:

Estimated that OHI students represent approximately 15% of all students in special education per the National Center for Education Statistics.

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Other Health Impairment(OHI)cont.

Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)

  • IDEA does not define ADHD
  • American Psychiatric Association classifies the condition as a neurodevelopmental disorder portrayed as a persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interferes with functioning or development.

Causes

  • The cause/causes & risk factore for ADHD are unknown. Current research shows that genetics plays an important role. Recent studies of twins link genes with ADHD.
  • Scientist are studying other possible causes/risk factors (alcohol/tobacco use during pregnancy; premature birth; low birth weight; environmental toxins

Characteristics:

  • Inattention
    • Often makes mistakes
    • Difficluty staying focused
    • Fails to complete tasks
    • Avoids situations requiring focus
    • Loses necessary items (pens, etc.)
    • Easily distracted
    • Often forgetful
  • Hpperactivity
    • Fidgets/squirms; can’t sit still
    • Unable to sit for long periods
    • Runs/climbs excessivly
    • Talks excessivly
  • Impulsivity
    • Burts out answers
    • Has difficulty waiting in line
    • Interrupts/butts into conversations/activities
    • Impatient/acts withour thinking

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ADHD Prevalence:

More common in boys than girls; 8.4% of children suffer from ADHD per www.psychiatry.org ;

Average of 5-11% suffer from ADHD nation wide per the Centers for Disease Control.

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Other Health Impairment(OHI)cont.

Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)

Impact on Learning/Student Behaviors

  • Range of IQ for students with ADHD has been shown to be the same as students without ADHD.
  • ADHD is not a learning disability, it can cause difficulties in learning due to loss of attention span
  • Children with ADHD have a higher incidence rate fo learning disabilities
  • Children with ADHD can have problems with Math and Reading
  • Not paying attention makes it hard for ADHD students to remember what the teacher says regarding lessons, assignments, and due dates.

Accommodations for ADHD

  • Extra time on tests
  • Instruction & assignments tailored to the child
  • Positive reinforcement & feedback
  • Using technology to assist with tasks
  • Allowing breaks or time to move around
  • Changes to environment to limit distraction
  • Extra help with staying organized
  • Verbal prompts to stay on task

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Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

Definition:

Acquired injury to the brain caused by an external physical force, resulting in total or partial functional disability or psychosocial impairment, of both, that adversely affects a student’s educational performance. TBI applies to open or closed head injuries resulting in impairments in one or more areas. Such as: cognition, language, memory, attention, reasoning, abstract thinking, judgement, problem-solving, sensory/perceptual/motor abilities, psychosocial behavior, physical functions, information processing, & speech

Characteristics:

  • Memory/Attention concerns
  • Speech & Language concerns
  • Social skills/Emotional regulation /Physical concerns

Impact on Learning/Student Behaviors

  • May struggle to process visual information
  • May struggle to follow multi-step directions
  • May struggle to communicate
  • May have trouble with grade level work
  • May struggle with logic, problem solving, and reasoning skills
  • Most often need additional time to complete assignments

Prevalence:

  • CDC reports brain injury is the leading cause of disability & death in children/adolescents in the US. Age groups at greatest risk for brain injury are age 0-4 & 15-19.
  • Estimates on TBI students in Special Education were unavailable.

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About 180 per 100,000 children under age 15 experience TBIs & of that number 5-8% experience severe TBIs

www.projectidealonline.org/traumatic-brain-injury

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Teaching Strategies for Any Subject

  • Accommodations
    • Extra time
    • Graphic organizers
    • Dictionary
    • Audio recordings instead of text
    • Frequent Breaks
    • Small group setting
  • Strength based learning strategies
  • Scaffolded learning
  • Project Based Learning
  • Play Based Learning
  • Flipped Instruction

Modifications:

TEKS based lessons with modifications to curriculum to meet the Individual Education Plan criteria for each student.

  • Complete different homework than peers
  • Answer different test questions
  • Create alternate projects or assignments
  • Learn student level material
  • Graded using different standard
  • Be excused from some projects

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Teaching Strategies for Any Subject cont.

  • Accommodations
    • Extra time
    • Graphic organizers
    • Dictionary
    • Audio recordings instead of text
    • Frequent Breaks
    • Small group setting
  • Strength based learning strategies
  • Scaffolded learning
  • Project Based Learning
  • Play Based Learning
  • Flipped Instruction
  • Build comprehension
    • Visualize
    • Use Index Cards
    • Read aloud/listening centers
    • Use Sequencing Strategies
    • Think-pair-share
    • Repeated reading
    • Examples
    • Use technology

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Resources

  • Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). (n.d.). Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Retrieved March 7, 2021, from https://www.sites.ed.gov/idea

  • CDC Works 24/7. (n.d.). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved March 7, 2021, from https://www.cdc.gov

  • National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Home Page, a part of the U.S. Department of Education. (n.d.). National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved March 7, 2021, from https://nces.ed.gov
  • Project ideal. (n.d.). Retrieved March 08, 2021, from http://www.projectidealonline.org/

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Credits

Special thanks to all the people who made and released these awesome resources for free:

  • Background illustrated by Alex Monge for SlidesCarnival
  • Presentation template by SlidesCarnival
  • Photographs by Unsplash

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