A child with a disability is a child evaluated and determined to be eligible for special education services for intellectual disabilities, a hearing impairment including deafness, a speech or language impairment, a visual impairment including blindness, emotional disturbance, an orthopedic impairment, autism, traumatic brain injury, other health impairment, a specific learning disability, or Deaf/blindness.

Special education is specially designed instruction provided at no cost to parents that meets the unique needs of each student that is identified with a disability. Special education includes instruction in the classroom, in the home, in hospitals, institutions and other settings, physical education, travel training, and vocational education.

Related services are services such as transportation and developmental, corrective, and other supportive services as are required to assist a child with a disability to fully benefit from special education.

Individualized Education Programs (IEPs)

An Individualized Education Program (IEP) is a written document which is developed for each eligible student with a disability in accordance with the requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

Specific Special Education Categories of Eligibility

• Autism


• Deaf/Blind


• Emotional & Behavioral Disorder


• Deaf and Hard of Hearing (D/HH)


• Mild Intellectual Disability


• Moderate, Severe, Profound Intellectual Disability


• Orthopedic Impairment


• Other Health Impairment


• Specific Learning Disability


• Speech-Language Impairment


• Traumatic Brain Injury


• Visual Impairment & Blindness


• Significant Developmental Delay

Online Resources

• State Rules Pertaining to Exceptional Students
• Information on IDEA (U.S. Department of Education)
• Council for Exceptional Children
• Parent and Teacher Resources
• No Child Left Behind
• NCLB specific to Georgia