What are the 13 categories of special education?

By the IEP Atlas editorial teamLast updated November 1, 2026

Short answer

The 13 categories of special education are the disability types listed in IDEA, the federal special education law. They are autism, deaf-blindness, deafness, emotional disturbance, hearing impairment, intellectual disability, multiple disabilities, orthopedic impairment, other health impairment, specific learning disability, speech or language impairment, traumatic brain injury and visual impairment. A child must fit one and need special education because of it.

The federal special education law is called IDEA. It lists 13 disability categories that can make a child eligible for an IEP.^[1] The school team uses your child's evaluation to decide if one of them fits.

A category is a door, not a menu. It decides if your child can get an IEP. It does not decide which services your child gets. Those come from your child's needs, whatever the label.

The two-part test for eligibility

To get an IEP, your child has to meet both parts:

Your child has a disability that fits one of the categories.
Because of that disability, your child needs special education. That means teaching that is changed to fit your child, not just a seat near the front.

A child can have a diagnosis, such as ADHD, and still not qualify if they are doing well with general class supports. A child who does not qualify for an IEP may still get help through a Section 504 plan.

The 13 categories in plain words

The list below is in the same order as the federal rule. Each one has a short example. The examples are made up to show the idea.

Category	What it means	Example
Autism	A developmental disability that affects talking, social skills and behavior, usually seen before age 3	A first grader who rarely talks with peers and gets very upset when the schedule changes
Deaf-blindness	Both hearing and vision loss, so severe that programs for only one do not work	A child who uses touch sign language and needs a trained intervener
Deafness	Hearing loss so severe the child cannot process speech through hearing, even with aids	A child who uses American Sign Language at school
Emotional disturbance	Long-lasting emotional or behavior problems that hurt school performance	A fifth grader with deep sadness or fears that keep her from learning for months
Hearing impairment	Hearing loss that affects learning but is not as severe as deafness	A child with hearing aids who misses parts of class talk
Intellectual disability	Lower thinking skills plus trouble with daily life skills, starting in childhood	A child who learns new skills slowly and needs help with daily routines
Multiple disabilities	Two or more disabilities together that need a special program (not deaf-blindness)	A child with an intellectual disability and cerebral palsy
Orthopedic impairment	A physical condition that affects movement and learning	A child who uses a wheelchair and needs help with writing tools
Other health impairment	A health problem that limits strength, energy or attention	A child with ADHD, epilepsy or diabetes that affects schoolwork
Specific learning disability	Trouble with reading, writing, math, listening or speaking that is not explained by other causes	A bright third grader who cannot sound out words (often called dyslexia)
Speech or language impairment	Trouble with speech sounds, stuttering, voice or language	A kindergartner whom other people cannot understand
Traumatic brain injury	A brain injury caused by an outside force, such as a fall or car crash	A teen who has memory problems after a concussion in a crash
Visual impairment	Vision loss, including blindness, that affects learning even with glasses	A child who reads braille or large print

Developmental delay: a 14th option in many states

States may also use developmental delay for young children, usually ages 3 through 9.^[1] It covers a child who is behind in areas like talking, moving or social skills, when it is too early to name a specific disability. Each state decides if it uses this category and for which ages. The developmental delay entry has more.

Your state may use different names

The 13 categories are the federal list. States write their own rules, and some change the names. For example, a state may say "emotional disability" instead of emotional disturbance. Some states join deafness and hearing impairment into one category. Others split a category into smaller ones. Ask the team which name your state uses. The Center for Parent Information and Resources keeps a plain-language page on each federal category.^[3]

Annotated example: an eligibility page

Here is part of a made-up eligibility form. The notes after it explain what each part means.

Primary disability category. This is the main category the team chose. It is based on the evaluation results.
The part in brackets. For a learning disability, the form often names the area, such as reading or math. This helps the team aim the goals.
Secondary category. Some children fit more than one category. A second one can be listed, but it does not change your child's rights.
"Adversely affect." This means the disability makes school harder for your child. It is part one of the test.
Specially designed instruction. This means teaching that is changed to meet your child's needs. It is part two of the test. See specially designed instruction.
Eligible: Yes. Your child can now get an IEP. The team will write it within a set time.

Does the category matter?

The category matters less than most parents expect. Your child's IEP must be based on all of your child's needs, not just the ones linked to the label. A child with a learning disability can still get speech help or behavior support if they need it.

The category can affect some things. It can shape which staff join the team and what extra testing is done. If you think the wrong category was chosen, you can ask why and share your view.

Questions to ask the team

You can say these questions word for word:

"Which category are you thinking of, and what in the testing points to it?"
"Did you look at any other categories? Why did you rule them out?"
"Does my child need special education, or could general class support be enough?"
"Will the category change what services my child can get?"
"What name does our state use for this category?"
"If my child has a second disability, will you list it too?"
"When will we look at eligibility again?"

The questions to ask at the IEP meeting page has more for the next step.

What to do next

Read the evaluation report first. The category comes from the testing. Our guide on how to read a psychoeducational report walks through one.
Ask for the eligibility paperwork in writing so you can read it before you sign anything. The school must give you a copy of the evaluation report and the eligibility decision.^[2]
Learn the full process. The IEP evaluation process explains each step from request to meeting.
Call your state's Parent Training and Information Center. Every state has at least one. They give free help to families and can explain your state's categories.^[4]
Look at goals for your child's category. For example, the goals for a specific learning disability or goals for autism show what an IEP might work on.

Frequently asked questions

Can my child have more than one disability category?

Yes. The team names one main category and can list a second one. Your child's IEP must still cover all of their needs, whether or not each need is linked to the main category.

Is ADHD one of the 13 categories?

ADHD is not its own category. Many children with ADHD qualify under other health impairment, because it limits attention at school. Some qualify under another category if they have a second disability, and some get a 504 plan instead.

Is dyslexia covered by the 13 categories?

Yes. Dyslexia usually falls under specific learning disability, often in basic reading skills. The form may not use the word dyslexia, so you can ask the team to explain how the evaluation results fit.

What if I disagree with the category the school chose?

Ask the team to explain what in the testing points to that category. Share your view and ask for it to be written in the notes. Your state's Parent Training and Information Center can explain your options.

Use it in IEP Atlas

Sources

34 CFR §300.8: Child with a disability, Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School
34 CFR §300.306: Determination of eligibility, U.S. Department of Education (IDEA website)
Categories of Disability Under Part B of IDEA, CPIR
Center for Parent Information and Resources, CPIR

Written and checked by the IEP Atlas editorial team under our editorial policy. This guide describes general practice and federal rules. It is not legal advice; your state may add requirements, and the IEP team makes the decisions for each student.