IDEA Disability Categories in Indiana
What disability categories qualify for an IEP in Indiana?
Indiana recognizes 13 disability categories for special education eligibility under 511 IAC 7, Rule 41 (511 IAC 7-41-1 through 7-41-13). The categories are: (1) Autism Spectrum Disorder (511 IAC 7-41-1); (2) Blind or Low Vision (511 IAC 7-41-2) — Indiana's combined term for visual impairments including blindness; (3) Cognitive Disability (511 IAC 7-41-3) — Indiana's regulatory term for intellectual disability, subdivided into Mild (~2 SD below mean), Moderate (~3 SD below mean), and Severe (4+ SD below mean); (4) Deaf or Hard of Hearing (511 IAC 7-41-4); (5) Deaf-Blind (511 IAC 7-41-5); (6) Developmental Delay, ages 3 through 8 only (511 IAC 7-41-6); (7) Emotional Disability (511 IAC 7-41-7) — Indiana's term for what IDEA calls 'emotional disturbance'; (8) Language or Speech Impairment (511 IAC 7-41-8) — Indiana's combined category; (9) Multiple Disabilities (511 IAC 7-41-9); (10) Orthopedic Impairment (511 IAC 7-41-10); (11) Other Health Impairment (511 IAC 7-41-11); (12) Specific Learning Disability (511 IAC 7-41-12) — severe discrepancy model is prohibited; (13) Traumatic Brain Injury (511 IAC 7-41-13). Note that Indiana's category names differ from federal IDEA: 'Cognitive Disability' (not intellectual disability), 'Emotional Disability' (not emotional disturbance), 'Blind or Low Vision' (not visual impairment including blindness), and 'Language or Speech Impairment' (not separate speech and language categories). For SLD, Indiana prohibits the severe discrepancy model and requires RTI (Tiered Instructional Support System / TISS) or pattern of strengths and weaknesses approach (511 IAC 7-41-12).
What Indiana Requires
Indiana uses 'Cognitive Disability' (511 IAC 7-41-3), subdivided into Mild (~2 SD below mean), Moderate (~3 SD below mean), and Severe (4+ SD below mean) — all requiring both intellectual functioning deficits and adaptive behavior deficits.
Indiana uses 'Emotional Disability' (511 IAC 7-41-7) rather than the federal 'emotional disturbance'; the definition requires inability to learn not explained by cognitive, sensory, or health factors, plus one or more qualifying behavioral/emotional characteristics.
Developmental Delay is limited to students ages 3 through 8 (not yet age 9), requiring delays of 2 SD in one developmental domain or 1.5 SD in any two domains (511 IAC 7-41-6).
For Specific Learning Disability, Indiana prohibits the severe discrepancy model; identification must use RTI (Tiered Instructional Support System / TISS) or pattern of strengths and weaknesses (511 IAC 7-41-12).
A student must have a qualifying disability, the disability must adversely affect educational or functional performance, and the student must need special education and related services (511 IAC 7-40-6).
Eligibility cannot be based primarily on linguistic or cultural background, socioeconomic status, or inadequate educational opportunity (511 IAC 7-40-6).
Key Timelines
Eligibility determination must occur within 50 calendar days of receiving written parental consent for initial evaluation (511 IAC 7-40-4(a)).
Reevaluation of eligibility must occur at least every three years unless parent and public agency agree it is unnecessary (511 IAC 7-40-8; 34 CFR 300.303).
Developmental Delay eligibility ends when the student turns 9; the CCC must reclassify or exit the student at or before that point (511 IAC 7-41-6).