Special Education Eligibility in Kansas: What Parents Need to Know
This essential K-12 resource explains the two-part criteria required for special education eligibility under IDEA: your child must have a disability in one of 13 federally recognized categories AND the disability must impact educational performance requiring specially designed instruction. You’ll learn that having an outside diagnosis (like ADHD, autism, or anxiety) doesn’t automatically qualify a child for an IEP – both conditions must be met. The guide lists all 13 IDEA disability categories (autism, deaf-blindness, deafness, emotional disturbance, hearing impairment, intellectual disability, multiple disabilities, orthopedic impairment, other health impairment, specific learning disability, speech/language impairment, traumatic brain injury, and visual impairment) and explains that “educational impact” means more than grades – it includes effects on reading/writing/math, focus, social-emotional skills, communication, behavior, executive functioning, and curriculum participation. It covers who serves on the eligibility team, what happens during the eligibility meeting, and alternative supports like 504 Plans when IEP eligibility isn’t met. Perfect for parents navigating the evaluation process who want to understand eligibility criteria and their rights as team members.
