Who Qualifies for an IEP? - IEP Eligibility Categories

A child is eligible for an IEP if they meet the criteria for one of 13 eligibility categories and if they cannot make adequate progress in school without special education services. The 13 categories for the state of California are explained here:

1. Autism Spectrum Disorder
   • Abbreviation: ASD
   • Definition: A developmental disability and neurological difference that affects three domains: behavior, communication, and social skills.
   • Learn more: Getting a Child with Autism the School Supports They Need
2. Deafness
   • Abbreviation: D
   • Definition: Children who are unable to hear most or all sounds even with a hearing aid.
3. Deaf-Blindness
   • Abbreviation: DB
   • Definition: Students who have both severe hearing loss and severe vision loss.
4. Emotional Disturbance
   • Abbreviation: ED
   • Definition: A broad category signifying mental health needs. The following may be considered ED or OHI (Other Health Impairment): anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, schizophrenia.
   • Learn more: How IEPs and 504 Plans Help Support Mental Health in School
5. Hearing Impairment
   • Abbreviation: HI
   • Definition: Partial hearing loss.
6. Intellectual Disability
   • Abbreviation: ID
   • Definition: A cognitive disability that signifies below-average intellectual ability across academic and functional domains.
   • Learn more: Intellectual Disability 101
7. Multiple Disabilities
   • Abbreviation: MD
   • Definition: A child who meets the criteria for more than 1 of the 13 disability categories.
8. Other Health Impairment
   • Abbreviation: OHI
   • Definition: A broad category that covers conditions that limit a child’s strength, energy, or alertness. Examples: ADHD, anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression.
9. Orthopedic Impairment
   • Abbreviation: OI
   • Definition: A physical disability that requires special education services and supports in order to make academic progress.
10. Specific Learning Disability
    • Abbreviation: SLD
    • Definition: A broad category signifying learning differences that impact a child’s ability to do one or more of the following: read, write, listen, speak, reason, and do math. The following diagnoses are considered specific learning disabilities: dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, auditory processing disorder.
    • Learn more: Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD) 101
11. Speech or Language Impairment
    • Abbreviation: SLI
    • Definition: A communication disorder that adversely affects a child’s educational performance. Examples: stuttering, articulation issues, language impairment, voice impairment.
12. Traumatic Brain Injury
    • Abbreviation: TBI
    • Definition: A brain injury that results from head trauma that adversely affects a child’s educational performance.
13. Visual Impairment including Blindness
    • Abbreviation: VI
    • Definition: Vision issues that cannot be corrected with corrective eyewear.