Information from understood.org
ASD is a developmental disability. It involves a wide range of symptoms, but it mainly affects a child’s social and communication skills. It can also impact behavior.
Kids with a diagnosis of deaf-blindness have both severe hearing and vision loss. Their communication and other needs are so unique that programs for just the deaf or blind can’t meet them.
Kids with a diagnosis of deafness fall under this category. These are kids who can’t hear most or all sounds, even with a hearing aid.
Developmental delay refers to a significant lag or delay in a child's or individual's ability to reach developmental milestones typically expected for their age. These milestones encompass various areas of development, including physical, cognitive, social, emotional, and communication skills. Developmental delays can manifest in different ways and may be caused by various factors, such as genetic conditions, environmental influences, or neurological issues.
Various mental health issues can fall under the “emotional disturbance” category. They may include anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and depression. (Some of these may also be covered under “other health impairment.”)
A "functional delay" is not a commonly recognized or widely used term in developmental or medical literature. It might be a term used in a specific context or by certain professionals to describe delays or difficulties in functional abilities, but it lacks a standardized definition.
In general, the term "functional delay" could be used to refer to delays or difficulties in performing everyday functional tasks, such as self-care, mobility, communication, or other activities necessary for daily living. However, it's crucial to note that the specific meaning and implications of the term can vary depending on the context in which it is used.
The term “hearing impairment” refers to a hearing loss not covered by the definition of deafness. This type of loss can change over time. Being hard of hearing is not the same thing as having trouble with auditory or language processing.
Kids with this type of disability have below-average intellectual ability. They may also have poor communication, self-care, and social skills. Down syndrome is one example of a condition that involves an intellectual disability.
Being intellectually gifted, often referred to as giftedness or high intelligence, refers to an individual, typically a child or a student, who possesses exceptional intellectual abilities and demonstrates a high level of cognitive functioning beyond what is considered typical for their age or peer group.
A child with multiple disabilities has more than one condition covered by IDEA. Having multiple issues creates educational needs that can’t be met in a program designed for any one disability.
An orthopedic impairment is when kids lack function or ability in their bodies. An example is cerebral palsy.
The “other health impairment” category covers conditions that limit a child’s strength, energy, or alertness. One example is ADHD, which impacts attention and executive function.
The “specific learning disability” (SLD) category covers a specific group of learning challenges. These conditions affect a child’s ability to read, write, listen, speak, reason, or do math. Here are some examples of what could fall into this category:
Written expression disorder (you may also hear this referred to as dysgraphia)
SLD is the most common category under IDEA. In the 2018–19 school year, around 33 percent of students who qualified did so under this category.
This category covers difficulties with speech or language. A common example is stuttering. Other examples are trouble pronouncing words or making sounds with the voice. It also covers language problems that make it hard for kids to understand words or express themselves.
This is a brain injury caused by an accident or some kind of physical force.
A child who has eyesight problems is considered to have a visual impairment. This category includes both partial sight and blindness. If eyewear can correct a vision problem, then it doesn’t qualify.