Special Education

If your child has a diagnosis and/or behaviors in school that interfere with their ability to learn, they may be eligible for an evaluation to determine whether they are entitled to special education services.

Qualifying disabilities under the IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act) include any of the following*:

  • Specific Learning Disability

  • Other Health Impairment (ADHD, Anxiety, Depression, etc.) if it interferes with a child’s ability to learn

  • Autism Spectrum Disorder

  • Emotional Disturbance (generally, a pattern of behaviors that interferes with a student’s ability to learn)

  • Speech or Language Impairment

  • Intellectual Disability

  • Global Developmental Delay

  • Multiple Disabilities

  • Hearing Impairment

  • Visual Impairment

  • Orthopedic Impairment

  • Traumatic Brain Injury

  • Deaf-Blindness

*Students who have disabilities not included in this list or disabilities listed here but which are not impacting their education may still be entitled to a “504 Plan.” A 504 Plan provides accommodations to help a child to access their education. A 504 Plan is different from an IEP. A 504 Plan may include accommodations like additional time to complete assignments or a desk that is close to the board. An IEP specifically modifies the method of teaching to enable the student to learn in light of their disabilities. If a 504 plan is not helping the student succeed, a parent should consider requesting a “comprehensive IDEA evaluation.”