Know the Law

The 13 IDEA Disability Categories

The disability categories that can make a child eligible for an IEP, in plain language.

Educational classifications, not medical diagnoses. A medical or clinical diagnosis does not automatically qualify a child for an IEP, and a child can qualify under IDEA without one. Eligibility is an educational team decision based on evaluation data. These are educational classifications, not medical diagnoses.

How a child becomes eligible for an IEP

Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), having a disability is not enough on its own. To qualify for an IEP, an evaluation team generally must find three things to be true:

  • A qualifying disability. The child is evaluated and found to have one or more of the 13 disability categories defined under IDEA.
  • An adverse effect on learning. The disability must adversely affect the child educational performance. A label by itself is not enough.
  • A need for specially designed instruction. Because of the disability, the child needs special education and related services to access their education.

The 13 categories

Select a category to learn what it means, what it can include, how it affects school, and answers to common questions.

Autism

A developmental disability affecting communication, social interaction, and behavior.

Deaf-blindness

Combined hearing and vision loss with needs beyond either alone.

Deafness

Hearing loss severe enough to limit processing language by hearing.

Emotional disturbance

A long-standing emotional or behavioral condition that affects learning.

Hearing impairment

Hearing loss, permanent or fluctuating, that affects learning but is not deafness.

Intellectual disability

Significantly below-average intellectual and adaptive functioning from the developmental period.

Multiple disabilities

Two or more impairments whose combined effect needs more than any single-disability program.

Orthopedic impairment

A severe physical impairment that affects access to learning.

Other health impairment

Limited strength, energy, or alertness from a chronic or acute health condition. Often the category for ADHD.

Specific learning disability

A processing disorder affecting skills like reading, writing, or math. Includes dyslexia.

Speech or language impairment

A communication disorder affecting speech sounds, language, fluency, or voice.

Traumatic brain injury

An acquired brain injury from an external force that affects learning.

Visual impairment including blindness

Vision loss that, even with correction, affects learning. Includes partial sight and blindness.

Not sure which category fits your child? Ada can help you understand the categories and the evaluation process in plain language. Ask Ada.