13 Categories

of Disabilities

Autism

Deaf-blindness

Deafness

Emotional disturbance

Hearing impairment

Intellectual disability

Multiple disabilities

Orthopedic impairment

Other health impairment

Specific learning disability

Speech or language impairment

Traumatic brain injury

Visual impairment

Least Restrictive
Environment (LRE)
One of the more well-known aspects of this
law is that the student with a disability
should be able to learn in the least
restrictive environment. This means that
the student has the right to be in the
traditional classroom with his or her peers
(Study.com, 2013). For this reason, schools
are required to teach students with
disabilities in general education classroom
whenever possible (Lee, 2014).

IDEA
Individuals with Disabilities
Education Act, ages 3-21

This is important because this allows the

student to experience much of the same
educational opportunities as everyone else.
Just because a student has a disability, this
does not mean that they must feel different.

(Lee, 2014)

References
Latham, P. H. (n.d.). At a glance: Free and Appropriate Public
Education (FAPE). Retrieved from
https://www.understood.org/en/schoollearning/your-childs-rights/basics-about-childsrights/at-a-glance-free-and-appropriate-publiceducation
Lee, A. M. I. (2014, April 11). How IDEA protects you and
your child. Retrieved from
https://www.understood.org/en/schoollearning/your-childs-rights/basics-about-childsrights/how-idea-protects-you-and-your-child
Stanberry, K. (2014, June 3). Understanding 504 plans.
Retrieved from
https://www.understood.org/en/schoollearning/special-services/504-plan/understanding504-plans
Study.com. (2013, December 31). IDEA: Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act: History and summary
[Video file]. Retrieved from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XMndYNE
GFA

Anne Provenzano
Education 1100

upon by teachers, parents, specialists and (if

possible) the student (Study.com, 2013).
Specifically, the document spells out the
current status of the student, goals for the
school year, and what tools are needed to
accomplish those goals (Study.com, 2013).

Section 504 Plans

Individualized
Education Programs
(IEP)
Not all children with disabilities are covered
under IDEA. Included in this brochure are a
list of the 13 categories of disabilities that
the act covers. However, that is not the only
criteria. For a student to be eligible, the
student must demonstrate a disability as well
as need additional assistance or special
education to make it possible to learn and
develop as a student (Lee, 2014).
The process to go about finding this out is
an evaluation conducted by the school. As a
result of this evaluation, the school will
know what kind of disability the student
has, if they have one, and what tools or
resources are needed to address that (Lee,
2014).
From here, an Individualized Education
Program is created for that student. This is
a document that is drawn up and agreed

Sometimes, students do not qualify for an

Individualized Education Program and a 504
plan is a possible alternative. A 504 plan is
much less specific than an Individualized
Education Program as there is no specific
list of disabilities, but it can help students
who have difficulty learning (Stanberry,
2014). These two things are similar in that
there is an evaluation of the student and if
the student qualifies, a plan is written up
detailing how to meet the students needs
(Stanberry, 2014). However, these students
typically spend the entire day in the
classroom (Stanberry, 2014).

History of IDEA
o IDEA was first passed in 1975
called the Education for All
Handicapped Children Act
(Study.com, 2013).
o Its most current form is based
off of this law and was passed
in 2004 under the new name,
Individuals with Disabilities
Education Act (Study.com, 2013).

Free Appropriate
Public Education
(FAPE)
The Individuals with Disabilities Act also
gives students with disabilities something
called Free Appropriate Public Education
just like general students. To understand
what this is, it is best to break it down into
the words it is made up of.
While there are some fees associated with
school, the term free means that the
education for a child with a disability will
be paid for by the public, not the parent
(Latham, n.d.).
Each individual student is different, and
this holds true for students with
disabilities too. Appropriate describes an
educational plan that aims to meet that
students needs (Latham, n.d.).
Finally, the phrase public education is
key to identifying that students with
disabilities have the right to go to school
in the public school system (Latham, n.d.).