12.1: The Illinois Definition of Severe Disabilities
- Page ID
- 178876
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Severe disabilities include two disability categories, multiple disabilities and deaf–blind, as well as other combinations of disability categories. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) defines multiple disabilities as “concomitant impairments (such as intellectual disability–blindness or intellectual disability–orthopedic impairment), the combination of which causes such severe educational needs that cannot be accommodated in special education programs solely for one of the impairments. Multiple disabilities does not include deaf–blindness” (IDEA, Part B, Subpart A § 300.8(c)(7)(2004)). This definition states that the presence of multiple disabilities requires additional special education or related services. Deaf–blindness is a separate category.
The IDEA defines deaf–blindness as “concomitant hearing and visual impairments, the combination of which causes such severe communication and other developmental and educational needs that they cannot be accommodated in special education programs solely for children with deafness or children with blindness” (IDEA, Part B, Subpart A § 300.8(c)(2)(2004)). For a student to qualify for services in this category, their visual and hearing challenges need not meet the threshold for legal deafness or blindness. However, the combination of the two disabilities increases the student’s educational needs.
The Illinois Definition of Severe Disabilities
The Illinois State Board of Education does not have a specific definition for severe disabilities. It does, however, include the following definitions for multiple disabilities and deaf–blindness.
- “Multiple Disabilities means concomitant impairments (such as intellectual disability–blindness or intellectual disability–orthopedic impairment), the combination of which causes such severe educational needs that they cannot be accommodated in special education programs solely for one of the impairments. Multiple disabilities does not include deaf–blindness.
- Deaf–Blindness means concomitant hearing and visual impairments, the combination of which causes such severe communication and other developmental and educational needs that they cannot be accommodated in special education programs solely for children with deafness or children with blindness” (ISBE, 2022).
Note that the federal definition and the Illinois definition are exactly the same.
Individuals With Disabilities Education Act, Part B, Subpart A § 300.8(c)(2)(2004)
Individuals With Disabilities Education Act, Part B, Subpart A § 300.8(c)(7)(2004)
Illinois State Board of Education. (2022, September 27). Special education disability areas. https://www.isbe.net/Pages/Special-Education-Disability-Areas.aspx