Special Education Disability Categories in Texas
Texas public schools provide special education services under the disability categories defined by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Each category represents a condition that may adversely affect a student’s educational performance and require specially designed instruction.
Autism (AU)
Deaf or Hard of Hearing (DHH)
Deaf-Blindness (DB)
A developmental disability that significantly affects verbal and nonverbal communication, social interaction, and behavior. Characteristics generally appear before age three and may impact a student’s educational performance.
Deaf-Blindness (DB)
Deaf or Hard of Hearing (DHH)
Deaf-Blindness (DB)
Concomitant hearing and visual impairments create severe communication and educational needs that cannot be addressed solely through programs for students with deafness or students with blindness.
Deaf or Hard of Hearing (DHH)
Deaf or Hard of Hearing (DHH)
Deaf or Hard of Hearing (DHH)
A hearing impairment, whether permanent or fluctuating, that adversely affects a student’s ability to access auditory information necessary for learning.
Emotional Disability (ED)
Intellectual Disability (ID)
Intellectual Disability (ID)
A condition exhibiting one or more emotional or behavioral characteristics over an extended period of time that adversely affects educational performance. This may include difficulties with learning, interpersonal relationships, mood regulation, or inappropriate behaviors.
Intellectual Disability (ID)
Intellectual Disability (ID)
Intellectual Disability (ID)
Significant limitations in intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior, originating before age 18, that impact a student’s academic performance and need for educational support.
Multiple Disabilities (MD)
Intellectual Disability (ID)
Multiple Disabilities (MD)
The presence of two or more concurrent disabilities that result in severe educational needs which cannot be accommodated in a program designed for a single impairment.
Orthopedic Impairment (OI)
Specific Learning Disability (SLD)
Other Health Impairment (OHI)
A severe physical impairment—congenital, acquired, or resulting from disease—that adversely affects a student’s educational performance.
Other Health Impairment (OHI)
Specific Learning Disability (SLD)
Other Health Impairment (OHI)
A chronic or acute health condition that results in limited strength, vitality, or alertness, including heightened alertness to environmental stimuli. Conditions such as ADHD, epilepsy, asthma, and diabetes are commonly associated with OHI.
Specific Learning Disability (SLD)
Specific Learning Disability (SLD)
Specific Learning Disability (SLD)
A disorder in one or more basic psychological processes involved in understanding or using language. This may manifest as difficulties in reading (including dyslexia), writing, spelling, or mathematics, despite appropriate instruction.
Speech or Language Impairment (SLI)
Speech or Language Impairment (SLI)
Speech or Language Impairment (SLI)
A communication disorder, including articulation, fluency, voice, or language impairments, that adversely affects a student’s educational performance.
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
Speech or Language Impairment (SLI)
Speech or Language Impairment (SLI)
An acquired injury to the brain caused by an external physical force, resulting in total or partial functional disability that affects learning, behavior, cognition, or communication.
Visual Impairment (VI)
Speech or Language Impairment (SLI)
Visual Impairment (VI)
A vision impairment, including partial sight or blindness, that even with correction adversely affects a student’s educational performance. This may include conditions affecting visual acuity, peripheral vision, or visual processing.
Devolpmental delay (dd)
For children ages 3–8.
A delay in one or more developmental domains—cognitive, communication, motor, social-emotional, or adaptive behavior—that adversely impacts educational performance. This category provides flexibility in identifying younger students who require specialized instruction.
For more detailed information about each disability category
Three Letters That Matter: IEP
An Individualized Education Program (IEP) is a legal plan that outlines the special education services and supports your child will receive at school. It is designed to meet your child’s unique learning needs and help them succeed academically and socially.
An IEP includes:
· Your child’s current academic and functional levels
· Measurable annual goals
· Special education services and related supports (e.g., speech therapy, counseling)
· Accommodations or modifications to help your child access learning
· How progress will be measured and reported
How the IEP Process Works
1. Referral or Request – A parent or teacher can request an evaluation for special education.
2. Evaluation – The school assesses your child’s learning needs.
3. Eligibility Meeting – The team reviews results to determine if your child qualifies.
4. IEP Development – The team, including parents, writes the IEP with goals and supports.
5. Implementation – The school provides the services outlined in the IEP.
6. Monitoring & Review – Progress is tracked, and the IEP is reviewed at least annually.
If you have more questions about how the special education/IEP process works in Texas, please check out this helpful resource below:
EDUA 5312 Project - See file attachment below
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