IDEA Disability Categories in Hawaii
What disability categories qualify for an IEP in Hawaii?
Hawaii recognizes the 13 IDEA disability categories for special education eligibility, defined in HAR § 8-56-6 through HAR § 8-56-12. The categories are: (1) Autism; (2) Deaf-Blindness; (3) Deafness; (4) Emotional Disturbance; (5) Hearing Impairment; (6) Intellectual Disability; (7) Multiple Disabilities; (8) Orthopedic Impairment; (9) Other Health Impairment; (10) Specific Learning Disability; (11) Speech or Language Impairment; (12) Traumatic Brain Injury; and (13) Visual Impairment Including Blindness. Hawaii uses the standard federal IDEA terminology for all disability categories, without the state-specific terminology substitutions seen in some other states. For SLD determination, Hawaii permits both the severe discrepancy model and the Response to Intervention (RTI)/MTSS model (HAR § 8-56-11). Hawaii does not mandate use of either approach exclusively; the IEP team determines which methodology is appropriate. HIDOE's statewide MTSS framework supports RTI-based SLD identification. Hawaii also recognizes developmental delay as a category for children ages 3 through 9 under HAR § 8-56-6.
What Hawaii Requires
Hawaii recognizes all 13 federal IDEA disability categories and uses standard federal terminology (HAR § 8-56-6 through 8-56-12; 34 CFR 300.8).
For Specific Learning Disability, Hawaii permits both the severe discrepancy model and the Response to Intervention (RTI)/MTSS model; the IEP team determines the appropriate approach (HAR § 8-56-11; 34 CFR 300.307).
Developmental Delay is a recognized eligibility category for children ages 3 through 9 in Hawaii, allowing identification without assignment to a specific disability category (HAR § 8-56-6; 34 CFR 300.8(b)).
A student cannot be found eligible solely because of environmental, cultural, or economic disadvantage, limited English proficiency, or lack of appropriate instruction (HAR § 8-56-14(c); 34 CFR 300.306(b)).
HIDOE's MTSS framework supports multi-tiered intervention data collection as part of the SLD determination process statewide (HRS § 302A-101).
Key Timelines
SLD determination via RTI requires sufficient intervention data to establish a pattern of inadequate response to evidence-based interventions (HAR § 8-56-11; 34 CFR 300.307-309).
Developmental Delay category applies to children ages 3 through 9; the IEP team determines whether to continue using this category or transition to a specific disability category after age 9 (HAR § 8-56-6; 34 CFR 300.8(b)).
Reevaluation of eligibility must occur at least every three years or sooner if conditions warrant (HAR § 8-56-20; 34 CFR 300.303).