IEP's & 504's - Who Qualifies?
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The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires schools to provide special education and related services to eligible students. Here is the list:
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1. Specific learning disability (SLD)
The umbrella term “SLD” covers a specific group of learning issues. The conditions in this group affect a child’s ability to read, write, listen, speak, reason or do math.
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2. Other health impairment
The umbrella term “other health impairment” covers conditions that limit a child’s strength, energy or alertness. One example is ADHD.
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3. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
ASD is a developmental disability. It covers a wide range of symptoms and skills, but mainly affects a child’s social and communication skills. It can also impact behavior.
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4. Emotional disturbance
Children covered under the term “emotional disturbance” can have a number of mental disorders. They include anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder and depression.
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5. Speech or language impairment
The umbrella term “speech or language impairment” covers a number of communication problems. Those include stuttering, impaired articulation, language impairment or voice impairment.
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6. Visual impairment, including blindness
A child who has vision problems is considered to have a visual impairment. This condition includes both partial sight and blindness. If eyewear can correct a vision problem, then it doesn’t qualify.
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7. Deafness
Children with a diagnosis of deafness have a severe hearing impairment. They aren’t able to process language through hearing.
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8. Hearing impairment
The term “hearing impairment” refers to a hearing loss not covered by the definition of deafness. This type of loss can change or fluctuate over time. Remember that being hard of hearing is not the same thing as having auditory processing disorder.
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9. Deaf-blindness
Children with a diagnosis of deaf-blindness have both hearing and visual impairments. Their communication and other needs are so great that programs for the deaf or blind can’t meet them.
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10. Orthopedic impairment
Any impairment to a child’s body, no matter what the cause, is considered an orthopedic impairment. One example is cerebral palsy. This condition is caused by damage to areas of the brain that control the body.
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11. Intellectual disability
Children 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 an intellectual disability.
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12. Traumatic brain injury
This is a brain injury is caused by an accident or some kind of physical force.
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