Types of Special Needs Students

There are many types of special needs students who have their education guided by teachers with special education degrees. Some impairments are easily identifiable and can be defined objectively, such as blindness or deafness. Other types of special needs students, like those with autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), psychiatric problems, and multiple disabilities, require a diagnosis from a professional. Some special needs students have learning disabilities, like those with dyslexia or dyscalculia, while others have physical impairments like muscular dystrophy or cerebral palsy. Special needs students are also often categorized by level of disability. Levels can range from mild to moderate to severe to profound.

Special needs students that are placed in special education programs are often sorted into organized categories. This organization allows special education teachers and other educational professionals the ability to work with specific groups of students who are on a similar education level or have similar challenges. In other words, special education students that are blind are often educated together, as are students that are deaf. Students with multiple disabilities might be put in the same group as well, depending on the nature of their disabilities. Sometimes, special needs students are organized by level of disability in the classroom.