Legal Definitions - child with disabilities

A child with disabilities is a child who requires special education or related services due to mental retardation, hearing, language, or visual impairment, serious emotional disturbance, or another health impairment or specific learning disability. This definition is under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

Examples of disabilities that may require special education or related services include:

• A child who is deaf or hearing-impaired
• A child who is blind or visually disabled
• A child who is mentally retarded
• A child who has a serious emotional disturbance
• A child who has a specific learning disability

These examples illustrate how a child with disabilities may require special education or related services to help them learn and succeed in school. It is important for schools to provide these services to ensure that children with disabilities have equal access to education.