13 Categories of Disabilities

Question 1

developmental disability significantly affecting verbal and nonverbal communication and social interaction

Answer 1

AUTISM

Question 2

• repetitive activities
• stereotyped movements
• resistance to environmental change or change in daily routines
• unusual responses to sensory experiences

Answer 2

AUTISM

Question 3

• concomitant [simultaneous] hearing and visual impairments
• they cannot be accommodated in special education programs

Answer 3

DEAF-BLINDNESS

Question 4

hearing impairment so severe that a child is impaired in processing linguistic information through hearing, with or without amplification

Answer 4

DEAFNESS

Question 5

• an impairment in hearing, whether permanent or fluctuating
• is not included under the definition of “deafness”

Answer 5

HEARING IMPAIRMENT

Question 6

inability to learn that cannot be explained by intellectual, sensory, or health factors

Answer 6

EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCE

Question 7

inability to build or maintain satisfactory interpersonal relationships with peers and teachers

Answer 7

EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCE

Question 8

Inappropriate types of behavior or feelings under normal circumstances.

Answer 8

EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCE

Question 9

A general pervasive mood of unhappiness or depression

Answer 9

EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCE

Question 10

tendency to develop physical symptoms or fears associated with personal or school problems. The term includes schizophrenia.

Answer 10

EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCE

Question 11

The term does not apply to children who are socially maladjusted, unless it is determined that they have an emotional disturbance

Answer 11

EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCE

Question 12

A child lines up their toy cars in a very specific order and becomes extremely upset if someone moves one. This repetitive behavior provides them with a sense of control and predictability.

Answer 12

AUTISM

Question 13

A teenager struggles to understand sarcasm and takes things very literally. This makes social interactions confusing and sometimes leads to misunderstandings.

Answer 13

AUTISM

Question 14

A young adult flaps their hands excitedly when they are happy, a form of self-stimulatory behavior that helps them regulate their emotions.

Answer 14

AUTISM

Question 15

A child has difficulty transitioning from playing outside to coming inside for dinner. The change in routine causes significant anxiety and a meltdown.

Answer 15

AUTISM

Question 16

A student who is overwhelmed by the noise and bright lights in the school cafeteria and covers their ears and closes their eyes. They are unusually sensitive to sensory input.

Answer 16

AUTISM

Question 17

A young child learns to communicate using tactile sign language, where the signer places their hands on the child’s hands to form the signs.

Answer 17

DEAF-BLINDNESS

Question 18

A teenager uses a braille display connected to a computer to access information and communicate with others.

Answer 18

DEAF-BLINDNESS

Question 19

An adult who relies on a support person to help them navigate unfamiliar environments and access information through touch and limited vision.

Answer 19

DEAF-BLINDNESS

Question 20

A student who learns about the world through tactile experiences, such as feeling different textures and objects.

Answer 20

DEAF-BLINDNESS

Question 21

Individual struggles to participate in a group conversation because they cannot see facial expressions or hear what is being said.

Answer 21

DEAF-BLINDNESS

Question 22

A child uses sign language as their primary mode of communication and attends a school for the deaf.

Answer 22

DEAFNESS

Question 23

A teenager with cochlear implants can hear some sounds but still relies on lip reading and visual cues to understand speech.

Answer 23

HEARING IMPAIRMENT

Question 24

An adult who uses a TTY (teletypewriter) or video relay service to make phone calls.

Answer 24

DEAFNESS

Question 25

A student who requires an interpreter in the classroom to translate spoken language into sign language.

Answer 25

DEAFNESS

Question 26

Individual advocates for closed captioning on television and in movie theaters to ensure access to information.

Answer 26

DEAFNESS

Question 27

An elderly person with hearing loss struggles to hear conversations in noisy restaurants.

Answer 27

HEARING IMPAIRMENT

Question 28

A child with a mild hearing impairment uses hearing aids to amplify sounds in the classroom.

Answer 28

HEARING IMPAIRMENT

Question 29

A musician with hearing loss uses specialized equipment to monitor their music.

Answer 29

HEARING IMPAIRMENT

Question 30

A person finds it difficult to distinguish between certain sounds, like "s" and "f."

Answer 30

HEARING IMPAIRMENT

Question 31

Someone with fluctuating hearing loss experiences better hearing on some days than others.

Answer 31

HEARING IMPAIRMENT

Question 32

A child has frequent outbursts of anger and aggression at school and at home.

Answer 32

EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCE

Question 33

A teenager isolates themselves from their peers and experiences feelings of depression and hopelessness.

Answer 33

EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCE

Question 34

A student has difficulty concentrating in class and completing their schoolwork.

Answer 34

EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCE

Question 35

A child with an emotional disturbance experiences anxiety and panic attacks in social situations.

Answer 35

EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCE

Question 36

A young adult struggles to maintain stable relationships and employment.

Answer 36

EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCE

Question 37

Difficulty with Communication – During group activities, Ben struggles to make eye contact and prefers pointing at objects instead of speaking. When his classmates ask him questions, he repeats parts of their sentences instead of responding directly.

Answer 37

Autism

Question 38

Repetitive Activities – Every day during lunch, Sophia arranges her food in a specific order and eats only from left to right. If someone rearranges her plate, she becomes visibly upset and refuses to eat.

Answer 38

Autism

Question 39

Stereotyped Movements – In class, Leo often flaps his hands and rocks back and forth when excited or overwhelmed. His teacher notices that these repetitive movements help him self-soothe in noisy environments.

Answer 39

Autism

Question 40

Resistance to Change – When the school announces a last-minute change in seating arrangements, Oliver refuses to sit in a new spot and begins to cry. His teacher gently reassures him but understands that changes to routine are difficult for him.

Answer 40

Autism

Question 41

Unusual Responses to Sensory Experiences – During art class, Mia refuses to touch finger paint because she dislikes the texture. However, she enjoys the feeling of spinning and often twirls in circles for long periods.

Answer 41

Autism

Question 42

Limited Communication – Anna, a 9-year-old with deaf-blindness, uses tactile sign language to communicate with her caregiver, as she cannot rely on visual or auditory cues.

Answer 42

Deaf-Blindness

Question 43

Navigational Challenges – In the hallway, Michael relies on a trained guide to move between classes safely. Without assistance, he is unable to navigate his environment independently.

Answer 43

Deaf-Blindness

Question 44

Specialized Learning Needs – Teachers in a standard special education class struggle to accommodate David’s needs because he requires a unique combination of Braille, tactile symbols, and hand-over-hand sign language for communication.

Answer 44

Deaf-Blindness

Question 45

Difficulty Responding to Environmental Cues – During a fire drill, Lily does not hear the alarm or see the flashing lights. Her personal aide must tap specific signals on her hand to alert her of the emergency.

Answer 45

Deaf-Blindness

Question 46

Dependence on Touch for Interaction – When playing with her peers, Sarah learns about new objects by feeling them with her hands, but she often has difficulty understanding social interactions unless someone physically guides her.

Answer 46

Deaf-Blindness

Question 47

Struggles in Group Conversations – During lunch, Jake finds it difficult to follow group conversations because multiple people are speaking at once, and not everyone uses sign language.

Answer 47

Deafness

Question 48

Reliance on Visual Communication – Emma depends on an interpreter in class to understand lectures because she cannot process spoken language, even with a hearing aid.

Answer 48

Deafness

Question 49

Challenges with Verbal Instructions – When the teacher announces a sudden assignment change without writing it on the board, Alex misses the information and has to ask a classmate to clarify.

Answer 49

Deafness

Question 50

Difficulty with Public Announcements – During a school event, Noah is unaware of last-minute schedule changes because all announcements are made over the loudspeaker.

Answer 50

Deafness

Question 51

Social Isolation – Olivia, who is deaf, finds it difficult to make friends because most of her classmates do not know sign language. She often feels left out of conversations.

Answer 51

Deafness

Question 52

Fluctuating Hearing Abilities – Sam, who has mild hearing loss, can hear clearly some days but struggles on days when his hearing worsens. His teachers use a microphone system to help him.

Answer 52

Hearing Impairment

Question 53

Difficulty in Noisy Environments – In the cafeteria, Sophia struggles to understand her friends because the background noise makes it harder for her to distinguish speech.

Answer 53

Hearing Impairment

Question 54

Misunderstanding Verbal Instructions – During a lesson, Ethan misinterprets his teacher’s verbal instructions and completes the wrong assignment because he could not hear certain words clearly.

Answer 54

Hearing Impairment

Question 55

Reliance on Lip Reading – Mia depends on lip reading, so when her teacher turns away while speaking, she misses key information.

Answer 55

Hearing Impairment

Question 56

Hearing Aids Are Not Always Effective – Liam wears hearing aids, but they do not completely restore his hearing. He still struggles to hear high-pitched sounds and soft-spoken voices.

Answer 56

Hearing Impairment

Question 57

Inability to Learn Without Clear Reason – Despite receiving extra support, Lucas consistently struggles with schoolwork. His difficulties are not due to a learning disability but rather his ongoing emotional distress.

Answer 57

Emotional Disturbance

Question 58

Anxiety About School – Noah often complains of headaches and stomachaches before big tests. Despite no medical condition, his physical symptoms seem to be linked to his anxiety about school performance.

Answer 58

Emotional Disturbance

Question 59

Difficulty Maintaining Friendships – Sophia frequently gets into conflicts with classmates and has trouble keeping friends because she misinterprets social cues and reacts emotionally.

Answer 59

Emotional Disturbance

Question 60

Persistent Sadness or Withdrawal – Emma, usually an enthusiastic student, stops participating in class and avoids social interactions. She appears tired and uninterested in activities she once enjoyed.

Answer 60

Emotional Disturbance

Question 61

Inappropriate Reactions – During a minor disagreement, Jake suddenly becomes aggressive, yelling and throwing his books. His emotional reactions are much stronger than the situation requires.

Answer 61

Emotional Disturbance