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.

• Blind-Visually Impaired
• Deaf-Blind
• Deaf and Hard of Hearing
• Developmental Cognitive Disability
• Developmental Delay - Infants and Toddlers
• Developmental Delay - Ages Three through Six
• Emotional or Behavioral Disorder
• Other Health Disabilities
• Physically Impaired
• Severely Multiply Impaired
• Speech or Language Impairments
• Traumatic Brain Injury

Specific Learning Disability

• Specific Learning Disability Definition
• Dyslexia Informational Papers and Guidance
• Introduction to Auditory Processing Disorders
• Introduction to Nonverbal Learning Disorders

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
• DCD – Developmental Cognitive Disability
• DD – Developmental Delay
• EBD – Emotional or Behavioral DisorderIEP – Individual Education Plan
• MDE - Minnesota Department of Education
• OHD – Other Health Disabilities
• PI – Physically ImpairedSMI – Severely Multiply Impaired
• SpEd Forms
• SAT - Student Assistance Team
• SLD or LD – Specific Learning Disability
• SL/SLP - Speech Language/Speech Language Pathologist
• TAT - Teacher Assistance Team
• TBI – Traumatic Brain Injury
• VI – Visual Impairment