Areas of Disabilities 

There are 14 categories of disability under the federal IDEA and the disabling condition must not only exist but it must require that the student need special education and related services. Most of the disability categories also require that disability cause an adverse effect on the student’s educational performance. (34 C.F.R. 300.8) 

Autism

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) 

Visual Impairment including blindness 

Emotional Disability (ED)

Specific Learning Disability (SLD) 

Other Health Impairment (OHI) 

Speech or Language Impairment 

Orthopedic Impairment 

Hearing Impairment including deafness 

Deaf – Blind 

Intellectual Disability (ID) (formerly Mental Retardation) 

Multiple Disabilities (MD)

Deafness 

Developmental Delay [in N.C. only children 3 – 7 y.o., See N.C.G.S. 115C-106.3(2)]