Federal Categories of Special Education

These are the 14 federal disabilities that qualify under IDEA. In order to get an IEP (indivdulized education plan), a student must have one of these 14 qualifying conditions. When looking at the characteristics of students who qualify for an IEP, it is important to understand a few things. First, the student must be between 3-21 years of age. Second, the student must have an identified disability that is hindering their learning and needs specialized instruction to help them close the achievement gap between the child and their peers. Third, It is important to remember that every student is different and will require different services/support even if they have the same qualifying condition. Finally, it is essential for the family of the student who has an IEP to work with the educational team to determine the best placement for the student in the school system. By working as a team, educators can help the students succeed in all facets of life!

Listed here are the 14 qualifying conditions.