13 Categories of Disability
Autism
Characteristics
Lowered ability to non-verbally
and verbally communicate, resistance to
change or change in routine, unusual responses to sensory stimuli, lack of social
interaction, difficulty following directions, heavy focus on one particular topic, disruptive behavior.
Classroom Strategies
Give directions one step at a time,
communicate in simple and direct
language, adjust lessons to pique student's
certain interests
Prevalence of Diagnosis
In 2018, the CDC updated to 1 in 59 children in US are on the autism spectrum
Resource
Developmental delay
Characteristics
Students with a delay in physical development, cognitive development, communication development, social or emotional development, or adaptive development
Classroom Strategies
Organizing the classroom environment according to the students specific needs
Prevalence of Diagnosis
Organizing the classroom environment according to the students specific needs
Resource
Deaf-blindness
Characteristics
Both hearing and vision
disability, severe communication
breakdown due to both senses impaired
that their needs cannot be met by resources
just for the blind or just for the deaf, ranges from those that have a small amount of impairment in both to complete loss of both hearing and vision.
Classroom Strategies
Touch is the most effective way of communication and learning for these individuals, for those that have some vision and ASL can be used for communication, for those with little to no vision: braille books and writings. Strategies all depend on each student's needs and abilities within the realm of their hearing or sight.
Prevalence of Diagnosis
The National Center on Deaf-Blindness
estimated in 2008 that there were over 10,000 children between birth and 22 in the US with deaf-blindness
Resource
Intellectual disabilities
Characteristics
A lower than average level of intellectual functioning while also failing to show adaptive behavior. Can include Down Syndrome and Fragile X syndrome. An IQ below the range of 70-75.
Classroom Strategies
Organizing tasks into small steps, allowing for a self-determined pace and frequent opportunities for breaks
Prevalence of Diagnosis
According to the Special Olympics, about 6.5 million people in the US have an intellectual disability
Resource
Emotional Disturbance
Characteristics
generally those health issues that are deemed mental health issues like anxiety, depression, eating disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder , etc. when the condition impacts educational performance or psychosocial behavior
Classroom Strategies
Working with psychological professionals to help students and teachers better understand the struggles of those within this category
Prevalence of Diagnosis
According to the National Center for
Education Statistics, in the 2015-16 school year, about 347,000 students in the US were categorized in the emotional disturbance category
Resource
Hearing Impairment
Characteristics
Hearing impairments that can result in some or total loss of hearing
Classroom Strategies
Integration of visual learning and
use of American Sign Language when necessary
Prevalence of Diagnosis
According to the National Center for
Education Statistics, in the 2015-16 school year, about 75,000 students in the US had some sort of hearing impairment
Resource
Multiple Disabilities
Characteristics
Students whose needs are categorized under multiple categories of impairment. Can be any combination of the other categories under IDEA when the student is disabled in more than one category
Classroom Strategies
Strategies in each category work in this
instance.
Prevalence of Diagnosis
According to the National Center for
Education Statistics, in the 2015-16 school year, about 131,000 students had multiple disabilities
Resource
Orthopedic Impairment
Characteristics
Physical impairments due to birth defects,
disease, or injury. Include, but not limited to: amputations, burns, bone fractures, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy etc.
Classroom Strategies
Organize environment for student to
gain easy access to and around the classroom. In a physical education setting: adapting the activity according to their needs and physical abilities.
Prevalence of Diagnosis
The National Center for Educational Statistics suggests 65,000 students in the US in 2011 received services for orthopedic impairment
Resource
Other Health Impairment
Characteristics
those that have limited abilities in strength and/or reaction to what happens in an educational setting because of health issues including but not limited to ADHD, diabetes, epilepsy, heart condition Tourette syndrome, etc. that may negatively impact the child’s academic abilities
Classroom Strategies
Communication with the student, student's parents, and school nurse should be simple and direct so that the student gets the resources needed to function in the classroom
Prevalence of Diagnosis
The US department of Education
reported in 2004 that 449,093 students
in the US were classified under Other Health Impairment
Resource
Specific Learning Disability
Characteristics
Impairments due to psychological process that impact the ability to read, write, listen, speak, or perform math. Does not include impairments due to visual, hearing, or physical disabilities.
Classroom Strategies
The teacher presents information in
differentiated ways to help focus on a students strengths and to help the student with work through their impairment
Prevalence of Diagnosis
The National Center for Learning Disabilities reported that 2.4 million students in the US in 2011 had a specific learning disability
Resource
Speech or Language Impairment
Characteristics
Can include any of the following: communication disorder such as stuttering, difficulty pronouncing certain sounds, difficulty speaking specific to voice impairment due to injury of throat or mouth.
Classroom Strategies
Allowing students to communicate at
their pace and in their own way without rushing or belittling
Prevalence of Diagnosis
The National Institutes of Health found in 2016 that 1 in 12 children aged 3-17 in the US had an impairment due to speech or language.
Resource
Traumatic Brain Injury
Characteristics
Any functional disability or psychological impairment due to a brain injury that may impact a student's educational performance. Can impair cognition, attention, memory, motor abilities, psychosocial behavior, speech, etc. Does not include brain injury due to birth defects or genetics.
Classroom Strategies
Give students extra time to finish tests
and assignments, keep directions simple and direct
Prevalence of Diagnosis
According to the CDC, around 62,000 children a year in the US sustain brain injuries.
Resource
Visual Impairment
Characteristics
A visual impairment that negatively impacts a student's educational performance. Include both partial sight and total blindness
Classroom Strategies
Organize classroom for students to maneuver around classroom safely,
provide opportunities for students to learn using other senses more often than not: touch and hearing.
Prevalence of Diagnosis
According to the National Center for
Education Statistics, in the 2015-16 school year, about 27,000 students in the US had a visual impairment
Resource