IDEA, the federal law governing special education, is applicable to all children with disabilities, but it contains provisions specific to children with “low incidence” disabilities, including requirements for funding their services such as therapies and equipment.
“Low incidence” essentially means affecting less than 1 percent of the population. According to IDEA, low incidence includes the following disabilities:
- “a visual or hearing impairment, or simultaneous visual and hearing impairments;
- a significant cognitive impairment; or
- any impairment for which a small number of personnel with highly specialized skills and knowledge are needed in order for children with that impairment to receive early intervention services or a free appropriate public education” (Section 1462 c).
Some states define low incidence slightly differently from the federal definition. For example, California Education Code does not include intellectual disability. While IDEA does not include autism in its definition of low incidence, some states — including Texas, Ohio, Tennessee, and Minnesota — do describe autism as a low-incidence disability.
For more information, see our full article Low-Incidence Disabilities 101.
