Children and Youth with Disabilities: News and Information
Author: Disabled World (DW)
Updated/Revised Date: 23 Jul 2026
Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Definition - About This Section - FAQs - Publications - Subtopics
Synopsis
Authoritative resource on children and youth with disabilities, covering autism, learning disabilities, IDEA categories, special education, and SSI benefits.
At a Glance
- 1 - Learning disabilities affect at least 1 in 10 school children today.
- 2 - Evaluation is an essential first step in the special education process under IDEA.
- 3 - Having a child with a disability can bring couples closer together, with open communication being key.
- 4 - SSI eligibility can also qualify a child for State supplemental payments, Medicaid, and Food Stamps, depending on the State.
Topic Definition
- Children with Disabilities
Children with disabilities are young people whose physical, cognitive, sensory, emotional, or developmental conditions substantially affect how they learn, communicate, or take part in everyday activities, often requiring specialized support to reach their full potential. Under the U.S. Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), a child with a disability is one who has been formally evaluated as having a qualifying condition - such as autism, a hearing or visual impairment, an intellectual disability, a specific learning disability, a speech or language impairment, an emotional disturbance, an orthopedic or other health impairment, or a traumatic brain injury - and who, because of that condition, needs special education and related services. The concept spans infants, toddlers, children, and youth, and it shapes not only how schools deliver instruction but also how families access rights, benefits, and community services designed to help each child thrive.
About This Section
Understanding Support, Rights, and Services for Kids Living with a Disability
This section of Disabled World covers a range of specific childhood disabilities and disorders, including information about disability in infants, toddlers, children, and youths. We also provide links to disability specific sites and support groups for both children and parents of children, or a child, with a disability.
Child with a Disability:
Means a child evaluated in accordance with U.S. Sec. 300.304 - 300.311 as having mental retardation, a hearing impairment (including deafness), a speech or language impairment, a visual impairment (including blindness), a serious emotional disturbance (referred to in this part as "emotional disturbance"), an orthopedic impairment, autism, traumatic brain injury, another health impairment, a specific learning disability, deaf-blindness, or multiple disabilities, and who, by reason thereof, needs special education and related services. (IDEA)
Student with Disability:
Defined as students who require special education because of autism; communication disorders; deaf-blindness; emotional disturbances; hearing impairments, including deafness; intellectual disability; orthopedic impairments; other health impairments; specific learning disabilities; traumatic brain injuries; or visual impairments, including blindness. (OAR 581-015-2000(4))
Disabled World Child Disability Section Mission
- Provide families of children with disability information concerning their rights and entitlements to services and support.
- Advocate on behalf of children with a disability and families to ensure the best possible support and services are available from the community and World Governments.
- Educate public policy-makers and the general community about the needs of children with a disability.
- Provide information and resources to schools and the education sector regarding Childhood Disability and a child's unique issues.
Parents are often worried when their child experiences learning problems in school. There are many reasons for learning difficulties, but a common one may involve a specific learning disability. Learning disabilities affect at least 1 in 10 school children today.
Evaluation is an essential beginning step in the special education process for a child with a disability. In the United States, the evaluation process is guided by requirements in special education law, the Individual's with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
IDEA's Definition of "Child with Disability"
IDEA lists different disability categories under which a child may be found eligible for special education and related services. These categories are:
- Autism
- Deafness
- Deaf-blindness
- Mental retardation
- Multiple disabilities
- Hearing impairment
- Developmental delay
- Traumatic brain injury
- Emotional disturbance
- Orthopedic impairment
- Other health impairment
- Specific learning disability
- Speech or language impairment
- Visual impairment, including blindness
Parents with a child, or children, with a disability often have more stress placed on their relationship than parents of typically developing children. However, it has also been shown that having a child with a disability can also bring a couple closer together. The main key(s) to keeping your marriage or relationship strong are open communication and spending a great deal of time together.
Child Disability Benefit
Under the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program, Social Security can provide cash payments to children with disabilities. A child who is eligible for Federal SSI cash payments is also eligible, depending on the State, for State supplemental payments, Medicaid, Food Stamps, and other social services. To apply for child disability support, you will need to complete an Application for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) AND a Child Disability Report. The report collects information about the child's disabling condition and how it affects his/her ability to function. Contact your local U.S. Department of Social Security to find out whether the income and resources of the parents and the child are within the allowed limits, and to start the SSI application process.
Further Information
Disability Education - Special Education - Children's Health Concerns
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my child qualifies for special education services?
A child qualifies after a formal evaluation confirms a disability listed under IDEA and shows that the condition creates a need for special education and related services. Contact your child's school in writing to request an evaluation, which is provided at no cost to families.
What is an Individualized Education Program (IEP)?
An IEP is a written plan developed by a team of educators and parents that outlines a child's learning goals, the services they will receive, and how progress will be measured. It is a legal document reviewed at least once a year to make sure the child's needs are being met.
At what age can a child be evaluated for a disability?
Children can be evaluated from birth, with early intervention services generally available for infants and toddlers from birth to age three. Older children are served through school-based special education programs once they reach school age.
What is the difference between an IEP and a 504 Plan?
An IEP provides specialized instruction and related services for students who qualify under IDEA, while a 504 Plan offers accommodations that remove barriers for students who have a disability but do not need specialized instruction. A 504 Plan falls under civil rights law rather than special education law.
Can parents disagree with a school's evaluation decision?
Yes, parents have the right to challenge a school's findings and may request an Independent Educational Evaluation at public expense. Families can also pursue mediation or a due process hearing if disagreements cannot be resolved informally.
What support is available for siblings of children with disabilities?
Many communities offer sibling support groups, counseling, and workshops that help brothers and sisters share experiences and understand their sibling's condition. These resources can ease feelings of stress, jealousy, or isolation that siblings sometimes face.
How can families cope financially with a child's disability?
Beyond SSI benefits, families may access Medicaid waivers, tax credits, special needs trusts, and nonprofit grant programs that offset care costs. Speaking with a social worker or disability advocate can help identify the full range of available assistance.
Curated and edited by Ian C. Langtree, Founder & Editor-in-Chief, Disabled World. This section is maintained by the Disabled World editorial team.
Last updated: