Individuals with Disability Education Act (IDEA)

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a law that states all children with disabilities receive free and appropriate education and ensures that schools provide students with specialized support and services. 

IDEA also states that children ages birth through two receive early intervention services while children ages 3 through 21 receive special education and related services.

The 13 categories of disabilities listed under IDEA as well as a few category examples are listed below.  For more information on IDEA, click here.

1. Specific Learning Disability- Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, Dyscalculia, Auditory Processing Disorder, Nonverbal Learning Disability

2. Other Health Impairment (OHI)- ADHD, ADD

3. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

4. Emotional Disturbance- Anxiety Disorder, Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Depression

5. Speech and Language Impairment- Stuttering, Impaired Articulation, Language Impairment or Voice Impairment

6. Visual Impairment, including Blindness

7. Deaf

8. Hearing Impairment

9. Deaf-blindness

10. Orthopedic Impairment- Cerebral Palsy

11. Intellectual Disability- Down Syndrome

12. Traumatic Brain Injury

13. Multiple Disabilities- multiple diagnoses covered under IDEA