School
Systems
When
a child turns three years old, he or she transitions from the early intervention
system to the school system. At this time, eligibility criteria change significantly.
Remember that early intervention programs welcome infants and toddlers with
developmental delays or at high risk of developing delays. However, in order
to receive special education services through the school system from age 3 on,
children must have a disability that affects their educational performance.
Because of this more restricted definition, many children with minor delays
do not receive special services after their third birthday.
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All
children with disabilities are eligible for special education in the school
system when they reach their third birthday.
Children
from age 3 to 21 may be eligible for special education under the following thirteen
disability categories:
- autism
- deaf-blindness
- emotional disturbance,
including depression and schizophrenia
- hearing impairment,
including deafness
- mental retardation,
including Down syndrome
- multiple disabilities,
which may be physical and/or cognitive
- orthopedic impairment,
which may be present at birth or acquired through disease or injury
- other health impairment,
including acute or chronic health problems and ADHD
- specific learning disability
- speech or language
impairment
- traumatic brain injury
- visual impairment,
including blindness (NICHCY)
For children
age 3 through 9 years, states are allowed to provide special education services
for children with "developmental delays" rather than identifying one
of the thirteen categories above. School systems use various diagnostic assessments
and criteria to determine eligibility for special education and related services.
Each child’s services are outlined in a formal document known as the Individualized
Education Program (IEP), which is developed by the child’s family and
the educational team participants.
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Within the school system, children can qualify for special education services
under thirteen categories of disability.
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