Definitions used in Special Education

Children experiencing disabilities are guaranteed a free appropriate public education under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA '97) and Alaska state regulations. Alaska State regulations also provide a definition for gifted students; for more information about gifted education in the Anchorage School District, go to: www.asdk12.org/depts/gifted/. Parents can also contact their child's teacher/counselor or Merri Kae VanderPloeg at 907-742-3794.

A child is a "qualified disabled person" under Section 504 of The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 if he or she

1. has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities (such as caring for one's self, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, and working), has a record of such an impairment, or is regarded as having such an impairment; and
2. is of an age at which it is mandatory under state law to provide preschool, elementary, secondary, or adult education to the disabled (in Alaska State, ages 3 to 21). [34 CFR 104.3(j) and (k)(2)].

A child with a diagnosis of ADD/ADHD is a "qualified disabled person" under Section 504 if

1. he or she is between the ages of 3 to 21, and
2. the disabling condition substantially limits the child's ability to learn or to otherwise benefit from his or her education program.

Anchorage School District recognizes the need for physical access to school facilities by individuals with mobility impairments. While not all buildings are fully accessible, each student with a mobility impairment will have an equal opportunity to educational programs within the district. Students are afforded the opportunity to have an accessibility study completed relating individual needs to the facility of choice to determine the appropriateness of that facility. Please contact the building principal with questions or requests.

For more information regarding special education services, your parent rights under IDEA and/or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, or other programs serving individual needs, visit the ASD 504 Policy Web site or contact:

There are the 14 state and federally recognized disability categories that must be used to determine whether a child demonstrates a disability and is in need of special education and related services. The presence of a disability is not sufficient to establish eligibility for special education. The disability must result in an educational deficit that requires specially designed instruction (i.e. special education). Here is the listing of the categories:

For definitions of these categories, please go to the state regulations located at: www.eed.state.ak.us/tls/sped/Handbook05/part3.html#sec8.