Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), also known as attention-deficit disorder (ADD), is a neurodevelopmental disorder. It’s one of the most common mental disorders in children. As its name suggests, ADHD can cause a person to be overactive (“hyper” or fidgety), impulsive, or distractible. A child with ADHD may have trouble…
Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), other health impairment (OHI) means having limited strength, vitality, or alertness, including a heightened alertness to environmental stimuli, that results in limited alertness within the educational environment and negatively impacts a child’s educational performance. OHI may occur due to chronic…
Orthopedic impairment (OI) refers to a severe impairment to movement or mobility that negatively affects a child’s educational performance. OI includes physical disabilities and impairments caused by: Congenital anomalies, or conditions present at birth. Disease, such as bone tuberculosis or poliomyelitis. Other causes, including amputation, cerebral palsy, and…
Multiple disabilities (MD) is a category defined in Connecticut as multiple simultaneous impairments that, in combination, cause severe enough educational needs that a student can’t properly be accommodated in special education programs designed for just one of their particular disabilities. Note: MD does not include deaf-blindness (DB).
Intellectual disability (ID) is defined in Connecticut as significant limitations in both intellectual (mental) functioning and adaptive behavior, as shown in social, practical, and conceptual adaptive skills. Many different factors are taken into consideration when evaluating a student for intellectual disability, including: Information and evaluations provided by the…
In Connecticut, hearing impairment (HI) is defined as a severe auditory disability that causes difficulty processing linguistic information (speech or sounds) with or without amplification and negatively impacts a child’s educational performance. Also known as auditory disabilities, hearing impairments can impact one or both ears. They can range…
Emotional disturbance (ED) occurs when a child shows one or more of the following characteristics over a long time period, severely enough that it negatively impacts their educational performance: General, consistent depressed mood or unhappiness. Inappropriate behaviors or feelings under otherwise normal circumstances. Inability to learn that can’t be…
Developmental delay (DD) occurs when a child is slower to reach developmental skills or milestones than their peers (children of the same age). It refers to a delay in one or several of the following areas: Adaptive (behavioral) development Cognitive (mental) development Communication, social, or emotional development Physical…
Deafness-blindness (DB) refers to hearing and visual impairments that occur at the same time (known as concomitant or simultaneous). In students with DB, the combination of these impairments causes significant enough communication, developmental, and/or educational needs that they can’t be properly accommodated in special education programs for children with…
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), commonly known as autism, is a developmental disability that affects verbal and non-verbal communication, learning, and social interaction (known as pragmatics). Autism can also impact a student’s behavior. A student with autism may exhibit: Repetitive activities or stereotyped (repeated, seemingly purposeless) movements. Repetitive words…
