To be eligible for special education and related services a child must be between 3 and 21 years old and have one or more of the following disabilities, determined by the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA):
- Autism
- Deaf-blindness
- Deafness
- Developmental delay (for 3- to 5-year-olds, inclusive)
- Emotional disturbance
- Hearing impairment
- Intellectual disability (mental retardation)
- Multiple disabilities
- Orthopedic impairment
- Other health impairment (limited strength, vitality or alertness due to chronic or acute health problems such as lead poisoning, asthma, attention deficit disorder, diabetes, a heart condition, hemophilia, leukemia, nephritis, rheumatic fever, sickle cell anemia, and Tourette syndrome)
- Physical impairment
- Specific learning disability
- Speech or language impairment
- Traumatic brain injury
- Visual impairment including blindness
The disability must adversely affect the child’s educational performance; and as a result, the child needs a special instructional program to address his or her unique educational needs.
« Previous FAQ | Next FAQ » | Back to FAQ index
