Categories of Disability
There are a variety of categories that disabilities fall under, and the access needs for students with different disabilities vary widely.
Note that these are just examples of some of the access needs and accommodations folks might have. Individuals with the same disability often have different access needs.
Disability Category |
Example |
Access Need Example |
---|---|---|
Auditory |
hearing loss | captioning |
Visual |
low vision | screen reader |
Deaf-blindness |
Usher Syndrome | braille format |
Speech |
stutter | text-to-speech software |
Mobility, Flexibility, & Body Structure |
paralysis | extended testing time |
Cognitive |
attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder | quiet testing space |
Seizure |
epilepsy | service animal |
Psychiatric/psychological |
social anxiety disorder | Alternatives to speech-based class participation |
Multiple/Compound |
cerebral palsy | text-to-speech; wheelchair accessible desk |
Learning |
dyslexia | special font |
Most blind Americans do not use braille.