Special education teachers are part of the assessment team that determines eligibility for special education services. There are 14 major eligibility categories defined by the Individuals with Disabil

Disability Category

Definition

Characteristics

Causes

Prevalence

Potential Effect on Learning

Autism

Autism is a developmental disability that affects communication (verbal and nonverbal) and social skills.

-Difficulty communicating and interpreting motives and cues of others

-Not comfortable with change

-Poor social skills

-May engage in the same activity over and over (SARRC, n.d.)

The causes of Autism are not clear, but has something to do with brain development before birth

Autism is one of the fastest growing disabilities. Prevalence has changed to 1 in 68 children in U.S. (Autism Society, 2016, para. 2)

Difficulty with written expression. Reading comprehension, math problem solving, fine and gross motor skills may also be affected, over and under selective attention

Deaf-Blind

Deafness

Developmental Delay

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 Including Blindness