When talking about students who receive special education services, there’s a wide range of disability levels to consider. Special education disability categories can range from a mild learning disability to more significant physical, emotional or cognitive disabilities.
Coursework in the online Master of Science in Education (MSE) in Special Education – Instructional Specialist K-12 program from Arkansas State University (A-State) covers the range of disabilities you will need to understand as an effective practitioner in the field. Through these studies, you can prepare yourself to provide effective, evidence-based and specialized learning experiences to every exceptional learner, tailored to their unique needs and preferences.
Categories of Disability According to IDEA
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA, defines what constitutes a child with a disability under law. It guides how states define who is eligible for special education services, and mandates that states provide eligible children with a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) in the least restrictive environment.
IDEA breaks down disabilities into specific categories. Within each category, the range of disability can be mild to significant or severe. Students can also qualify for more than one category when they receive services under the special education umbrella. IDEA lists the disability categories as follows: An intellectual disability, a hearing impairment (including deafness), a speech or language impairment, a visual impairment (including blindness), a serious emotional disturbance, an orthopedic impairment, autism, traumatic brain injury, an other health impairment, a specific learning disability, deaf-blindness, or multiple disabilities. Developmental delay may be treated as an additional category depending on state policy or included within existing categories.
Mild to Moderate Disabilities
An important aspect of providing students with a quality education in the least restrictive environment is inclusion in general education classrooms when possible. If a student can be part of the general education classroom, their disability may range from mild to moderate. Students with more mild or moderate disabilities range from specific learning disabilities, like struggling in reading or math, to speech impairment where the student needs speech therapy for pronunciation issues.
These students can normally function within a general classroom setting with accommodations. Teacher collaboration with a specialist can also help general education classroom instructors meet the individual needs of students with exceptionalities.
Even a physical disability, such as a hearing impairment or health impairment, can be mild. A student with a hearing impairment might just need an assistive device to hear adequately in the classroom but may not need any other accommodation to succeed. Typically, a general education teacher may have students who fall in the mild to moderate ranges of disability in their classroom.
Moderate to Severe Disabilities
If a student has a disability that hinders them from being around others unaccompanied by a teacher or specialist, they may fall into the more significant or severe range of disabilities. Students with more severe disabilities may spend most of their time in special programs within a school. This is another component of determining what the least restrictive environment is for each unique student, as outlined in their Individualized Education Plan.
Students in this range of disabilities may have significant physical limitations, emotional disturbances or developmental delays. They may spend the majority of the day in a dedicated space with a specialist, changing rooms for electives, P.E. and lunch.
The courses you take in A-State’s instructional specialist master’s degree program prepare you for numerous educational settings. This includes learning how to lead a special education classroom and provide students with significant disabilities one-on-one instruction that can help them succeed in school.
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can present in mild to severe ways, depending on each unique individual and how they experience the world. ASD can impact students dynamically, often resulting in social and sensory challenges. Many students with autism can function and be successful in a general education classroom setting with minimal accommodations.
However, some students with autism need a more structured environment and might be placed in a small classroom with more special education teachers per student. These students may require more distinct structure, boundaries and rules to be successful.
There are numerous effective strategies for teaching and working with students with autism, whether in a general education classroom or in a specialized classroom for exceptional learners. Again, highly trained instructional specialists can play a critical collaborative role in helping teachers understand how to meet the individual needs of students with autism in different environments.
Focusing on the Student Is Key
For exceptional learners, there’s not a set standard for where their disability might fall in a range of mild to severe. You may have one student with autism excel in a general education classroom, while another’s needs are met far better in a special education classroom with a more controlled environment.
Focusing on discovering how each student can excel in school is key. As an instructional specialist with an MSE in special education, you can use your advanced knowledge and understanding of the needs of diverse learners to help students while also imparting expertise to colleagues who don’t have specialized training. By enhancing the knowledge and skills of an entire educational community, you can magnify your positive impact on learning, development and success for exceptional learners.
Learn more about the A-State’s online MSE Special Education – Instructional Specialist K-12 program.