The Thirteen Special Education Classifications Part 200 Regulations of the Commissioner of Education, Section 4401(1)
Student With a Disability: A student as defined in section 4401(1), who has not attained age 21 prior to September 1 st and who is entitled to attend public school pursuant to section 3202 of the Education law and who, because of mental, physical or emotional reasons has been identified as having a disability and who requires special services and programs approved by the Department of Education.
Special Services & Programs: Special Education A SERVICE a student receives that address deficits that impact educational performance. Special Class Program Special Class in one or more areas Specially Designed Instruction Specialized Supplementary Instruction Consultant Teacher Service (Direct or Indirect) Integrated Co-Teaching Adaptive Physical Education Related Services A SERVICE a student receives that address deficits in specified areas that impact educational performance. Speech & Language Therapy/Pathology Occupational Therapy Physical Therapy Counseling Services (Psychological or S.W.) Audiology services Assistive Technology Sign Language & interpreting services School health services Mobility services Parent training
Learning Disability Disorder in one or more of the basic psychological processes that adversely affects a student s educational performance involved in understanding or using language to: Listen (Auditory Processing Disorder, dysphasia) Think (dysphasia) Speak (dyslexia, disphasia) Read (dyslexia) Write (dysgraphia, dyspraxia) Spell (dyslexia, dysnomia) Compute math (dyscalculia) Memory (dysnomia) DOES NOT INCLUDE Learning problems that are primarily the result of: Visual deficits Hearing deficits Motor deficits Mental retardation Emotional disturbance Environmental disadvantage Cultural disadvantage Economic disadvantage
Speech or Language Impairment A communication disorder that adversely affects a student s educational performance including: Stuttering Impaired articulation Language processing impairment Voice impairment.
Other Health Impaired Having limited strength, vitality or alertness (including a heightened alertness to environmental stimuli) that results in limited alertness with respect to the educational environment due to a chronic or acute health problem including but not limited to: -Heart condition -Tuberculosis -Rheumatic fever -Nephritis -Asthma -Diabetes -Attention Deficit/Hyperactive Disorder -Tourette Syndrome -Hemophilia -Sickle Cell Anemia Which adversely affects a student s educational performance.
Traumatic Brain Injury An acquired injury to the brain caused by an external force including: Car accident Falls Physical abuse or by certain medical conditions including: Stroke Encephalitis Aneurysm Anoxia Brain tumors With resulting impairments in cognition, language, memory, attention, reasoning, abstract thinking, judgment, problem solving, sensory, perceptual & motor abilities, psychosocial behavior, physical functioning, information processing and/or speech that adversely affects academic performance.
Emotional Disturbance Exhibiting one or more of the following characteristics over a long period of time and to a marked degree that adversely affects a student s educational performance: Inability to learn that cannot be explained by intellectual, sensory or health factors Inability to make and maintain satisfactory relationships with peers and teachers Inappropriate types of behavior or feelings under normal circumstances Generally pervasive mood of unhappiness or depression Development of physical symptoms or fears associated with personal or school problems schizophrenia
Autism (Autistic Spectrum Disorders)-A developmental disability generally evident before age 3 which: Significantly affects- Verbal communication Nonverbal communication Social interaction Educational performance Frequently seen characteristics- Resistance to changes in routines or environment Unusual responses to sensory stimuli Engagement in repetitive, ritualistic activities or stereotypical movements
Intellectually Disabled (Formerly Mental Retardation) Significantly sub-average general intellectual functioning coexisting with deficits in adaptive behavior and manifesting during the developmental period, that adversely affects a student s education performance. -Most common causes- Down s Syndrome, Fragile X, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, PKU, Lead or Mercury Exposure, Extreme Malnutrition -3% of people have mental retardation -10% of students who need special education have some form of mental retardation 87% of people with mental retardation will only be a little slower then average in learning new information and skills and many are not diagnosed until they get to school. As adults, many people with mild retardation can live independently.
Intellectually Disabled Defined by the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities as: IQ below 70-75 on a standard, individually administered test AND Significant limitations in 2 of the following adaptive functioning areas that impede/will impede independent living: Communication (speech/language), Self-Care (dressing/bathing/using bathroom), Home living (helping set the table/cleaning/cooking), Social & Interpersonal skills (manners/social rules/playing games/getting along in a group), Using community resources, Self-direction, Academic Ability, Work Ability, Free time, Health, Safety. AND Starts before age 18
Deafness A hearing impairment that is so severe that the student is impaired in processing linguistic information through hearing, with or without amplification, that adversely affects a student s educational performance.
Hearing Impairment An impairment in hearing, whether permanent or fluctuating, that adversely affects the child s educational performance but that is not included under the definition in the deafness section.
Visual Impairment including Blindness An impairment in vision that, even with correction, adversely affects a student s educational performance. This includes both partial sight and blindness.
Deaf-Blindness Coexisting hearing and visual impairments, the combination of which causes such severe communication and other developmental and educational needs that they cannot be accommodated in special education programs solely for students with deafness or students with blindness.
Orthopedic Impairment A severe orthopedic impairment that adversely affects a student s educational performance caused by: Congenital anomaly- Clubfoot Absence of limb/s Disease- Poliomyelitis Bone tuberculosis Other causes- -Cerebral palsy -Amputation -Fractures or burns which cause contractures
Multiple Disabilities Coexisting impairments, the combination of which cause such severe educational needs that they cannot be accommodated in a special education program solely for one of the existing impairments- Mental retardation-blindness Mental retardation-orthopedic impairment Mental retardation-deafness, etc
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