ADHD in Adolescents- Part 3: Categories of Disabilities Used in Educational Settings
ADHD is a disability categorized as an Other Health Impairment (OHI) in an educational setting. People with ADHD may also qualify for having multiple disabilities if for example, they meet criteria for another disability category. Note: Names of disability categories and qualifications for meeting criteria differ in educational settings when compared to medical/behavioral health settings. Just because a medical doctor, psychologist, psychiatrist, or other licensed professional diagnosed your child with ADHD outside of the school setting, does not mean they qualify for services in an educational setting.
Last time we discussed how ADHD is categorized in educational settings and the consideration of support for multiple disabilities in the classroom.
Determining a Child's Disability
Although educational settings use different criteria for categorizing disabilities, they do typically use information from other outside evaluations in their assessments. Although you may believe your child meets criteria for multiple disabilities, it is up to the school to determine if this criteria is met and how they choose to document your child’s disability for the purposes of receiving services in a public school setting.
Evaluations within the public school systems, determine whether a student is qualified for services within one of the categories for disabilities in the state of Ohio.
Many people with ADHD have more than one disability. Knowing about the other categories in educational settings will help you stay informed and consider whether you may ask for additional services associated with another disability.
Categories of Disabilities Used in Educational Settings
1. Intellectual disability
2. Hearing impairment
3. Speech or language impairment
4. Visual impairment
5. Emotional disturbance
6. Orthopedic impairment
7. Autism
8. Traumatic brain injury
9. Other Health Impairment (OHI)
10. Specific learning disability
11. Deafness
12. Deaf-blindness
13. Multiple disabilities
14. Developmental delay
Resources and Services
Remember, ADHD is considered an Other Health Impairment (OHI). For more information, you can visit the website for the Ohio Department of Education.
There are other services associated with an individualized education plan (IEP) or 504 Plan used in the school setting.
IEP and 504 Plan services also address the use of assistive technology, support for school personnel in providing services, and services to support any medical needs.
Related services include but are not limited to transportation, speech-language pathology and audiology services, interpreting services, and psychological services.
If you are a parent or guardian involved in the IEP or 504 Plan process, be sure to ask about how it was determined whether your child needed accommodations, modifications, and/or assistive technology. Now you are equipped with some general information to plan for an IEP or 504 Plan.
References
Information associated with assistive technology and accessible educational materials center in Ohio can be found here:
Information associated with guidance on the IEP process in Ohio can be found here: