Not every student with disabilities is eligible for an IEP. To qualify, a student’s disability has to have a “significant adverse effect on school performance,” according to Shriner. If a student is referred for an evaluation, generally, a school assessment team will determine whether the student fits into any of the 13 categories under IDEA that qualify that child for an IEP, according to the law. Those categories include: Autism spectrum disorder Deaf-Blindness, or simultaneous hearing and visual impairments Deafness, including total or partial deafness Developmental delay, which means delays in communication, motor skills, or cognitive abilities Emotional disturbances, such as anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and depression Hearing impairments, including partial or temporary hearing loss, which aren’t identified under the “deafness” category Intellectual disability, such as Down syndrome Orthopedic impairment, such as cerebral palsy Other health impairments, which can include conditions such as ADHD Specific learning disability, such as any condition impacting a child’s ability to read (Dyslexia), write (dysgraphia), or do math (Dyscalculia) Speech or language impairment, such as stuttering or difficulty with articulation Traumatic brain injury caused by an accident Visual impairment, including partial and total blindness The largest category of special education students typically has been specific learning disabilities, followed by speech or language impairment, and autism, according to experts and NCES data. Students can also have multiple disabilities, which compound the educational needs they have, experts said.