The following is a brief summary of general categories:

• Visual Impairment: blindness or visual loss severe enough to impede the educational process (i.e. legally blind or blind)
• Communication Impairment: impairment in speech which indicates a need for accommodation.
• Mobility impairment: impairment in movement or motor functions which indicates a need for an accommodation.
• Learning Disability: learning disorders are diagnosed when an individual’s achievement on an administered standardized test in reading, mathematics, or written expression is substantially below that expected age for schooling and level of intelligence. The learning problems must significantly interfere with academic achievement or activities of daily living that require reading, mathematical and writing skills.
• Functional limitations: any medical or emotional condition which impedes the educational process—such as cardiovascular disease, lupus, cancer diabetes, ADHD.
• Deafness: severe or profound hearing loss requiring communication facilitation in the educational process.