Educators use this word to describe students who require special care when teaching. They may be gifted & talented and/or they may have a physical or mental disability.
"An individual with a disability is defined by the ADA as a person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, a person who has a history or record of such an impairment, or a person who is perceived by others as having such an impairment." - ADA
Autism
Deaf / blind
Developmental delay
Giftedness
Hearing impairment including deafness
Intellectual disability
Orthopedic impairment
Other health impairments
Serious emotional disturbance (ex. PTSD, depression)
Specific learning disabilities
Speech or language impairment
Traumatic brain injury
Visual impairment including blindness