Categories of Disability Under IDEA

Multiple Disabilities
1. Definition
  1. Multiple Disabilities "means simultaneous impairments, the combination of which causes such severe educational needs that they cannot be accommodated in a special education program solely for one of the impairments."
2. Intervention
  1. Calendar boxes are used as an early step toward literacy. Once a student becomes familiar with recognizing objects, they can be arranged from left to right to create a schedule that the child can "read", allowing them to develop connections between objects and symbols.
3. Modification
  1. Simplify the material in a book
4. Assistive Technology
  1. Programmable Keyboards that allows students who can't use a traditional keyboard or mouse to develop literacy skills through pictures
5. Case Study
  1. https://comeniusconductive.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/phoenix1_ok.pdf
Orthopedic Impairment
1. Definition
  1. Orthopedic Impairment "means a severe orthopedic impairment that adversely affects a child's educational performance. The term includes impairments caused by a congenital anomaly, impairments caused by disease, and impairments from other causes."
2. Intervention
  1. Special seating arrangements to develop useful posture and movements
3. Modification
  1. Taking alternative tests with fewer questions
4. Assistive Technology
  1. Speech Recognition Software or Screen Reading Software
Other Health Impairment
1. Definition
  1. Other Health Impairments "means having limited strength, vitality, or alertness, including a heightened alertness to environmental stimuli, that results in limited alertness with respect to the education environment that, is due to chronic or acute health problems and adversely affects a child's educational performance."
2. Intervention
  1. For students with ADHD, provide a daily report card rating certain predetermined goals. Also, assign larger projects in small steps.
3. Modification
  1. Reduce the difficulty of assignments or reducing the reading level
4. Assistive Technology
  1. Students with Cerebral Palsy can use computer terminals to aid in communication
Specific Learning Disability
1. Definition
  1. Specific Learning Disability "means a disorder in one or more of the basic psychological processes involved in understanding or in using language, spoken or written, that may manifest itself in the imperfect ability to listen, think, speak, read, write, spell, or to do mathematical calculations."
2. Intervention
  1. Allow students to take tests orally or through the use of a computer.
3. Modification
  1. When grading, allow for spelling errors or grade on a different scale
4. Assistive Technology
  1. Portable Word Processors or Audio Books
Speech or Language Impairment
1. Definition
  1. Speech or Language Impairments "means a communication disorder, such as stuttering, impaired articulation, a language impairment, or a voice impairment, that adversely affects a child's education performance."
2. Intervention
  1. Substitute oral assignments for hand written assignments, use vocabulary guides with key words broken down into syllables.
3. Modification
  1. Modify Grading
4. Assistive Technology
  1. Augmentative or Alternative Communication Devices
5. Case Study
  1. http://glennweybright.com/case-studies/second-grade-boy-with-expressive-language-disorder/
Traumatic Brain Injury
1. Definition
  1. Traumatic Brain Injury is "an acquired injury to the brain caused by an external physical force, resulting in total or partial functional disability or psychosocial impairment, or both, that adversely affects a child's educational performance."
2. Intervention
  1. Give student more time to finish assignments/tests, give directions one step at a time
3. Modification
  1. Alter assignments, or change the skill/standard
4. Assistive Technology
  1. Tape recorders, electronic spellers, alarms or beepers
Visual Impairment Including Blindness
1. Definition
  1. Visual Impairment including Blindness "means an impairment in vision that, even with correction, adversely affects a child's education performance The term includes both partial sight and blindness."
2. Intervention
  1. Allow for the use of optical devices, use large print books or use an audiobook.
3. Modification
  1. Provide help to a student via hints or clues to the correct answers, altering assignments so the student only completes the easiest problems
4. Assistive Technology
  1. Speech Access Software that reads the text from a computer
5. Case Study
  1. https://prezi.com/de8xovbwx8u8/visual-impairment-case-study/
Intellectual Disability
1. Definition
  1. Intellectual Disability is defined as "significantly subaverage general intellectual functioning, existing concurrently with deficits in adaptive behavior and manifested during the developmental period, that adversely affects a child's educational performance."
2. Intervention
  1. Break down large assignments or activities into small steps
3. Modification
  1. Shorten assignments/tests or grade on a different standard than the rest of the class
4. Assistive Technology
  1. Environmental Controls such as those to help lock/unlock doors or audio/video equipment
5. Case Study
  1. http://school-psychology.org/specific-learning-disability-case-study
Hearing Impairment
1. Definition
  1. Hearing Impairment is "an impairment in hearing, whether permanent or fluctuating, that adversely affects a child's educational performance."
2. Intervention
  1. The student may work with a speech therapist at home, at a clinic, or in school to develop their communication skills.
3. Modification
  1. Shorten test and assignments, modify the vocabulary to match student abilities
4. Assistive Technology
  1. Use flashing lights for signaling class schedules and alarms
5. Case Study
  1. http://ed.psu.edu/englishpds/09-10/Pawloski/Domains_files/pawloski_case_study.pdf
Emotional Disturbance
1. Definition
  1. Emotional Disturbance is "a condition exhibiting one or more of the following characteristics over a long period of time and to a marked degree that adversely affects a child's educational performance: an inability to learn that cannot be explained by intellectual, sensory, or health factors; an inability to build or maintain satisfactory interpersonal relationships with peers and teachers; inappropriate types of behavior or feelings under normal circumstances; a general pervasive mood of unhappiness or depression; a tendency to develop physical symptoms or fears associated with personal or school problems."
2. Intervention
  1. Incorporate smaller and more personalized learning environments, use journaling for self-expression, create a classroom reward program
3. Modification
  1. Alter material so student is learning similar material but at a lower level.
4. Assistive Technology
  1. Visual Timers or Vibrating Watches
5. Case Study
  1. http://ed.psu.edu/englishpds/10-11/gerrity/Case_Study_files/Gerrity-CaseStudy.pdf
Developmental Delay
1. Definition
  1. For children aged three through nine, developmental delay includes a child "who is experiencing developmental delays [...] in one or more of the following areas: physical development, cognitive development, communication development, social or emotional development, or adaptive development; and needs special education and related services."
2. Intervention
  1. The student with communication development delays may see a speech therapist who would use popsicle sticks, whistles, straws, or other items to help a child gain control over the muscles in their mouth.
3. Modification
  1. Shortened Assignments
4. Assistive Technology
  1. Memory Aids
Deafness
1. Definition
  1. Deafness is "a hearing impairment that is so severe that the child is impaired in processing linguistic information through hearing, with or without amplification."
2. Intervention
  1. Assistance from an individual who takes notes for the students, so the student can fully attend to the instruction
3. Modification
  1. The student is allowed to read a passage at a much lower grade level, or use an interpreter to sign the entire reading.
4. Assistive Technology
  1. Hearing Aids or other hearing assistive devices such as Frequency Modulation Systems
5. Case Study
  1. http://www.hearingreview.com/2015/01/case-study-5-year-old-boy-unilateral-hearing-loss/
Deaf-Blindness
1. Definition
  1. Deaf-Blindness are "simultaneous 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 children with deafness or children with blindness."
2. Intervention
  1. Included hands-on activities, offer extra time for tests/assignments
3. Modification
  1. Reduced Assignments
4. Assistive Technology
  1. Relay Services that allow voice calls to be sent as written messages
5. Case Study
  1. https://www.med.unc.edu/ahs/clds/resources/deaf-blind-model-classroom-resources/db-case-studies/matthews-story-1
Autism
1. Definition
  1. Autism is "a developmental disability significantly affecting verbal and nonverbal communication and social interaction, generally evident before age three, that adversely affects a child's educational performance."
2. Intervention
  1. Milieu Teaching can be used for Developmental Intervention. Milieu Training takes advantage of a child's interest in the things around him, in order to provide learning opportunities. For example, if a child expresses interest in a certain item, the teacher could prompt the student by placing that item out of reach, which forces the student to communicate with the teacher in order to receive it.
3. Modification
  1. Alter assignments by shortening them or only doing the easist questions.
4. Assistive Technology
  1. MyVoice: an alternative communications aide that allows non-verbal or low cognitive students communicate their needs.
5. Case Study
  1. http://leader.pubs.asha.org/article.aspx?articleid=2289534