Categorical Disability Information
Categorical Disabilities
The following is the list of special education disability categories regulated by the Minnesota Department of Education.
Each link will take you to the Minnesota Statute (Chapter 3525 of Minnesota Administrative Rules) that provides definitions and criteria for each disability area.
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Blind-Visually Impaired
- Deaf-Blind
- Deaf and Hard of Hearing
- Developmental Cognitive Disability
- Developmental Delay - Ages Birth through Two
- Developmental Delay - Ages Three through Six
- Emotional or Behavioral Disorder
- Other Health Disabilities
- Physically Impaired
- Severely Multiply Impaired
- Specific Learning Disability
- Speech or Language Impairments
- Traumatic Brain Injury
Resources
General
Autism
- Autism Society of Minnesota
- Autism Speaks
- Autism Today
- Do2Learn: Educational Resources for Special Needs
Specific Learning Disability
Acronyms and Abbreviations
Listed below are abbreviations and/or acronyms, along with their descriptions, that are often used in special education meetings, conferences, reports, notices, conversations, etc.
- 504 - Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
- ASD - Autism Spectrum Disorder
- CST - Child Study Team
- FBA - Functional Behavioral Assessment
- DARRT - Data Action Review & Response Team
- DCD - Developmental Cognitive Disability
- DD - Developmental Delay (Birth-Age 6)
- D/HH- Deaf/Hard of Hearing
- EBD - Emotional or Behavioral Disorder
- ECSE - Early Childhood Special Education
- IEP - Individual Education Program
- MDE - Minnesota Department of Education
- MTSS - Multi-Tiered System of Supports
- OHD - Other Health Disabilities
- OT - Occupational Therapist
- PI - Physically Impaired
- PT - Physical Therapist
- PWN - Prior Written Notice
- SMI - Severely Multiply Impaired
- SLD or LD - Specific Learning Disability
- SLI - Speech Language Impairment
- SLP - Speech Language Pathologist
- TBI - Traumatic Brain Injury
- VI - Visual Impairment