Higher Education Disability Services Directory

Disability
Category
Definitions
as defined in the NYSED-2H-2

Learning disability:

A student with a disorder in one or more of the basic psychological processes involved in understanding or in using language, spoken or written, which manifests itself in an imperfect ability to listen, think, speak, read, write, spell, or do mathematical calculations. The term may include such conditions as perceptual impairments, brain injury, neurological impairment, minimal brain dysfunction, dyslexia, developmental aphasia, Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Asperger Syndrome. The term does not include students who have learning problems that are primarily the result of visual, hearing or motor impairments, of mental retardation, of emotional disturbance, or of environmental, cultural or economic disadvantage.

Mobility impairment:

A student who, typically, must use a standard manual or electric wheelchair, or other assistive devices (crutches, braces, etc.) for mobility.

Visual impairment:

A student with visual acuity of 20/70 or worse in the better eye with best correction, or a total field loss of 140 degrees or more in the field of vision. Vision impairment is functionally defined as difficulty in reading regular newsprint, even with vision corrected by glasses or contact lenses. Legally blind (legal blindness) is defined as visual acuity of 20/200 or worse in the better or stronger eye with the best correction or totally blind.

Acoustical impairment:

A student with a hearing impairment, whether permanent or fluctuating, which adversely affects the individual's educational performance. This term includes both hard of hearing and students who are legally deaf. Legal deafness can be defined as for the most part not being able to discern spoken language.

Multiple disability:

A student with two or more disabilities both/all of which create substantial impairment in one or more major life activities, e.g., walking, eating, breathing, learning, etc. Students reported in this category also should be reported in every other category they fit.

Other Health Impairments:

• Mental health impairments: This category includes students with mental illnesses or emotional disturbance. For purposes of completing this form, students with autism may be included in this category.

• Speech impairment: A student with a communication disorder, such as stuttering, impaired articulation, a language impairment or voice impairment, which adversely affects the student's educational performance.

• Traumatic brain injury: An injury caused by an external physical force or by certain medical conditions such as stroke, encephalitis, aneurysm, anoxia or brain tumors with resulting impairments that adversely affect educational performance. The term includes open or closed head injuries from certain medical conditions resulting in mild, moderate or severe impairments in one or more areas, including cognition, language, memory, attention, reasoning, abstract thinking, judgment, problem solving, sensory, perceptual, or motor abilities, psychosocial behavior, physical functions, information processing, and speech. The term does not include injuries that are congenital or birth related.

• Orthopedic impairment: A student with a physical disability and severe orthopedic impairment that adversely affects educational performance. The term includes impairments caused by congenital anomaly (e.g., clubfoot, absence of some limb, etc.), impairments caused by disease (e.g., poliomyelitis, bone tuberculosis, etc.), and impairments from other causes (e.g., cerebral palsy, amputation, and fractures or burns which cause contractures).

• Alcohol/substance abuse and recovery: Individuals who are recovering from drug or alcohol or substance abuse or who are in treatment programs.

• Other: A student who has a physical disability and has limited strength, vitality or alertness due to chronic or acute health problems that adversely affect that individual's educational performance. Examples include a heart condition, tuberculosis, rheumatic fever, nephritis, asthma, sickle cell anemia, AIDS, hemophilia, epilepsy, lead poisoning, leukemia, diabetes or Tourette syndrome, temporary disabilities, repetitive motion syndrome, and carpal tunnel syndrome.