Autism Spectrum Disorder – Includes Asperger’s syndrome and other pervasive developmental disorders (PDD-NOS – Pervasive Developmental Disorder, not otherwise specified). NOTE: Professional and paraprofessional staff serving students with autism spectrum disorders must receive specialized in-service training in this area [511 IAC 7-26-2].
Communication Disorder – Includes disorders of fluency, voice, language, and/or disorders that may require an augmentative communication system. Students who have a communication disorder and another qualifying disability are typically assigned a primary and secondary category (e.g., learning disability with a secondary disability category of communication disorder). Programs designed solely for students with communication disorders are not appropriate for students with other types of disabilities [511 IAC 7-26-3].
Deaf-Blind – Students who have both a hearing and vision impairment and who cannot be accommodated by programs or services designed for students with only a hearing impairment or a visual impairment. Professional and paraprofessional staff serving students who are deaf-blind shall receive specialized in-service training in this area [511 IAC 7-26-4].
Developmental Delay – (Category for early childhood only: 3, 4, or 5-year-olds not yet eligible for kindergarten) A developmental delay is defined as a significant delay in the development of gross or fine-motor, cognitive, receptive or expressive language, social or emotional, self-help, or other adaptive skills [511 IAC 7-26-5.
Emotional Disability – Includes tendency to develop physical symptoms or fears, general pervasive mood of unhappiness/depression, inability to learn that cannot be explained by other factors, inability to build or maintain satisfactory interpersonal relationships, inappropriate behaviors, or feelings under normal circumstances [511 IAC 7-26-6].
Hearing Impairment – Hearing loss that with or without amplification adversely affects educational performance, is permanent or fluctuating, mild to profound, unilateral or bilateral, and may be referred to as “hard of hearing” or deaf.
Learning Disability – Includes dyslexia, brain injury, minimal brain dysfunction, developmental aphasia [511 IAC 7-26-8].
Mental Disability – Significantly below average general intellectual functioning with deficits in adaptive behavior that adversely affect educational performance. Categorized as mild mental disability, moderate mental disability, and severe mental disability [511 IAC 7-26-9 ].
Multiple Disabilities – More than one disability (called concomitant impairments) that result in severe educational needs that cannot be accommodated with services solely for one of the impairments. Does not include students in the Deaf-Blind category [511 IAC 7-26-10 ].
Orthopedic Impairment – A physically disabling condition that includes cerebral palsy, amputations, and fractures or burns that cause contractures 511 IAC 7-26-11 ].
Other Health Impairment – Characteristics include limited strength, vitality, or alertness due to chronic or acute health problems; may also be manifested by heightened alertness to environmental stimuli. Includes Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), diabetes, and asthma. NOTE: Professional and paraprofessional staff serving students with the label of Other Health Impairment shall receive specialized in-service training in this area [511 IAC 7-26-12].
Traumatic Brain Injury – An acquired injury to the brain caused by an external physical force; applies to open or closed head injuries. NOTE: Professional and paraprofessional staff serving students with the label of Traumatic Brain Injury shall receive specialized in-service training in this area [511 IAC 7-26-13].
Visual Impairment – Includes both partial-sightedness and blindness [511 IAC 7-26-14].
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