Eligibilities for Special Education
In order to be eligible for special education services, an individual must have a disability or impairment that adversely affects educational performance and that cannot be supported by general education instruction. There are 13 eligibility categories which all can be found in the resource below. On this page, I will discuss some of the more frequent eligibilities in the classroom.
Check out this PowerPoint to learn more about high incidence disabilities.
Check out this PowerPoint to learn more about autism and lower incidence disabilities.
Specific Learning Disabilities
Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD) are neurological disorders that affect the ability to process information.
They most commonly refer to problems with math and reading.
Here are some disabilities that fall under the SLD umbrella:
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Dyslexia
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Dyscalculia
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Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Helpful Resources:
Speech and Language Impairments
Speech and Language Impairments (SI) refer to disorders of speech and language that impact a child's educational performance.
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They may be congenital or acquired. It may be the primary disability or secondary to other disabilities.
Early intervention is key with these disabilities.
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Stuttering
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Receptive Language Issues
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Expressive Language Issues
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Apraxia
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Aphasia
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Helpful Resources:
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Speech refers to the creation of sounds and words.
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Language refers to the understanding of communication symbols (like words).
Other Health Impairments
Other Health Impairments (OHI) are impairments that cause "limited strength, vitality, or alertness, including a heightened alertness to environmental stimuli, that results in limited alertness with respect to the educational environment, that:
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(i) is due to chronic or acute health problems such as asthma, attention deficit disorder or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, diabetes, epilepsy, a heart condition, hemophilia, lead poisoning, leukemia, nephritis, rheumatic fever, and sickle cell anemia; and
(ii) adversely affects a child's educational performance"
Helpful Resources:
Intellectual Disabilities
Intellectual Disabilities (ID) are disabilities that involve "significant limitations in both intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior that originates before the age of 22.
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Intellectual functioning refers to intelligence and measures the general mental capacity.
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Adaptive behavior is the combination of conceptual, social, and practical skills in everyday life."
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Down Syndrome
Helpful Resources:
Emotional Disturbances
Emotional Disturbances (ED) are
conditions that have "one or more of the following characteristics over a long period of time:
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An inability to learn that cannot be explained by intellectual, sensory, or health factors.
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An inability to build or maintain satisfactory interpersonal relationships with peers and teachers
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Inappropriate types of behavior or feelings under normal circumstances.
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A general pervasive mood of unhappiness or depression.
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A tendency to develop physical symptoms or fears associated with personal or school problems." (pulled from the source below)
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Some examples include:
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Anxiety
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Depression
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Anger Issues
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Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
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Trauma Related Disorders
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Bipolar Disorder
Helpful Resources:
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is "a developmental disability caused by differences in the brain."
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Some signs and symptoms include:
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poor social communication and interaction skills
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restrictive or repetitive behaviors or interests
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delayed speech and movement
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unusual eating or sleeping habits
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anxiety or stress
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hyperactive, impulsive, or inattentive behavior
Click here to view the Autism Speaks School Community Toolkit.
Helpful Resources:
