IEPs: The 13 disability categories

Understood Explains

There are 13 disability categories listed in a federal law called the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA.

And to get an IEP, or Individualized Education Program, your child will need to fit into at least one disability category.

These categories can have some hard-to-understand names, like “specific learning disabilities” or “other health impairments.”

But on this episode of Understood Explains, host Juliana Urtubey will share what these categories mean and why they relate to IEPs. She’ll also share what to do if your child doesn’t qualify for any disability category, or if they qualify for more than one.

For more resources, including a transcript formatted for easy skimming, visit the episode page on Understood.org.

Timestamps:

(00:43) Why do IEPs have disability categories?

(02:42) What are the 13 disability categories in IDEA?

(07:21) Are disability categories the same in every state?

(09:28) Can my child’s IEP include more than one disability?

(10:32) What if my child doesn’t qualify for any disability category?

(11:43) Key takeaways

Related resources:

• Download: Sample letters for requesting evaluations and reports
• 6 options for resolving an IEP dispute

Understood is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/give