Which disabilities comprised about 95% of students found eligible for special education?

Which disabilities comprised about 95% of students found eligible for special education?

• A. Specific Learning Disability; Speech or Language Disability; Health Impairment; Autism; Developmental Delay; Intellectual Disability; Emotional Disturbance
• B. Hearing impairment; Visual impairment; Traumatic Brain Injury; Deaf-Blindness
• C. Mental health disorders; ADHD; Orthopedic impairment; Developmental delay
• D. Autism; Deafness; Visual impairment; Intellectual disability

Answer: (A)

In special education, a large share of students served fall into a relatively small set of disability categories recognized by IDEA. The categories that make up the vast majority include Specific Learning Disability, Speech or Language Impairment, Health Impairment (often called Other Health Impairment and including conditions like ADHD), Autism, Developmental Delay, Intellectual Disability, and Emotional Disturbance. These areas account for the bulk of eligibility determinations, roughly in the neighborhood of 95% when combined. The other categories—such as Visual or Hearing impairments, Traumatic Brain Injury, Deaf-Blindness, and some broader mental health classifications—typically represent much smaller portions of the population served. Therefore, listing the major, commonly occurring categories together reflects the group that comprises most students receiving special education services.

In special education, a large share of students served fall into a relatively small set of disability categories recognized by IDEA. The categories that make up the vast majority include Specific Learning Disability, Speech or Language Impairment, Health Impairment (often called Other Health Impairment and including conditions like ADHD), Autism, Developmental Delay, Intellectual Disability, and Emotional Disturbance. These areas account for the bulk of eligibility determinations, roughly in the neighborhood of 95% when combined. The other categories—such as Visual or Hearing impairments, Traumatic Brain Injury, Deaf-Blindness, and some broader mental health classifications—typically represent much smaller portions of the population served. Therefore, listing the major, commonly occurring categories together reflects the group that comprises most students receiving special education services.