Special Education Eligibility: A Step-by-Step Guide for Educators Book

Preface     ix
Acknowledgments     x
About the Authors     xiii
Overview of Special Education and Eligibility Procedures     1
Brief History of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act     1
Purposes of IDEA     2
Special Education     3
Student With a Disability     3
Disabilities Covered Under IDEA     4
Evaluation for Special Education     4
Components of a Comprehensive Evaluation     5
The Eligibility Committee/IEP Committee     6
Responsibilities of the Eligibility Committee/IEP Committee     7
Members of the Eligibility Committee/IEP Committee     7
Procedures for Determining Eligibility     8
Autism     9
Definition Under IDEA     9
Overview     9
Prevalence     11
Determining the Presence of Autism: Step by Step     11
Final Thoughts     20
Deaf-Blindness     21
Definition Under IDEA     21
Overview     21
Prevalence     22
Determining the Presence of Deaf-Blindness: Step by Step     22
Final Thoughts     25
Developmental Delay     27
Definition Under IDEA     27
Overview     27
Prevalence     28
Determining the Presence of a Developmental Delay: Step by Step     28
Final Thoughts     35
Emotional Disturbance     37
Definition Under IDEA     37
Overview     37
Prevalence     38
Determining the Presence of an Emotional Disturbance: Step by Step     39
Final Thoughts     44
Hearing Impairment     47
Definition Under IDEA     47
Overview     47
Prevalence     48
Determining the Presence of a Hearing Impairment: Step by Step     49
Final Thoughts     51
Specific Learning Disabilities     53
Definition Under IDEA     53
Overview     54
Prevalence     55
Determining the Presence of a Specific Learning Disability: Step by Step     55
Final Thoughts     61
Mental Retardation     63
Definition Under IDEA     63
Overview     63
Prevalence     64
Determining the Presence of Mental Retardation: Step by Step     65
Final Thoughts      69
Multiple Disabilities     71
Definition Under IDEA     71
Overview     71
Prevalence     72
Determining the Presence of Multiple Disabilities: Step by Step     72
Final Thoughts     75
Orthopedic Impairment     77
Definition Under IDEA     77
Overview     77
Prevalence     78
Determining the Presence of an Orthopedic Impairment: Step by Step     78
Final Thoughts     82
Other Health Impairments     85
Definition Under IDEA     85
Overview     85
Prevalence     86
Determining the Presence of an Other Health Impairment: Step by Step     86
Final Thoughts     88
Speech and Language Impairments (Communication Disorders)     91
Definition Under IDEA     91
Overview     91
Prevalence     93
Determining the Presence of a Speech and Language Impairment: Step by Step     94
Final Thoughts     101
Traumatic Brain Injury     103
Definition Under IDEA     103
Overview     103
Prevalence     104
Determining the Presence of a Traumatic Brain Injury Step by Step     105
Final Thoughts     112
Visual Impairment     113
Definition Under IDEA     113
Overview     113
Prevalence     114
Determining the Presence of a Visual Impairment: Step by Step     114
Final Thoughts     117
Glossary     119
References and Suggested Readings     125
Index     131