There are many terms used to categorize a child who has "special needs". It is important to understand that the Individualized Education Program (IEP) Team is charged with determining if a pupil is an Individual with Exceptional Needs (IWEN). In order to make this determination, the IEP Team will rely on the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). IDEA is a federal law that furnishes a formal process for assessing children with disabilities and providing specialized programs and services to help them succeed in school by maximizing their educational opportunities.

IDEA defines "children with disabilities" as individuals between the ages of 3 and 22 with one or more of the following conditions:

• Mental Retardation
• Hearing impairment (including deafness)
• Speech or Language impairment
• Visual impairment (including blindness)
• Serious emotional disturbance
• Orthopedic impairment
• Autism or Autistic-like behavior
• Traumatic brain injury
• Specific learning disability
• Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)
• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
• Other health impairment