ADVOCACY ISSUES

Diagnostic Categories and Services Provided

The categories of children served include mental retardation, emotional disturbance, learning disabilities, speech or language impairment, traumatic brain injury, other health impairments, autism, physical or sensory disabilities, and multiple disabilities. Children who are determined to be eligible for these categories can be placed in any type of program that parents and public school professionals decide is appropriate: Special schools, special classes in regular schools, or resource room programs in which children spend all or most of their day in regular classrooms. Private day schools or even residential schools may be funded at public school expense if it can be shown that available public school programs are not appropriate. Designated services such as speech therapy or counseling may also be funded if determined to be necessary for the child's school progress. Although there is not a separate category for children with ADHD, these children can be served under the category of emotional disturbance or learning disabilities if they meet these criteria or else can be served under the category of other health impairment.