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Disabilities Defined

A student with a disability is an individual enrolled at a community college who has a verified impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, resulting in an educational limitation.

Note: This and the following definitions are based in whole or in part on Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations.

Acquired Brain Injury (ABI)
Acquired brain injury (ABI) is defined as a deficit in brain functioning which results in a total or partial loss of cognitive, communicative, motor, psycho-social and/or sensory-perceptual abilities and limits the student's ability to access the educational process.
Authority cited: Sections 67312, 70901 and 84850, Education Code. Reference: Sections 67310-67312 and 84850, Education Code.​

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is defined as a neurodevelopmental disorder that is a persistent deficit in attention and/or hyperactive and impulsive behavior that limits the student's ability to access the educational process.
Authority cited: Sections 67312, 70901 and 84850, Education Code.
Reference: Sections 67310-67312 and 84850, Education Code.

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are defined as neurodevelopmental disorders described as persistent deficits which limit the student's ability to access the educational process. Symptoms must have been present in the early developmental period and cause limitations in social, academic, occupational or other important areas of current functioning.
Authority cited: Sections 67312, 70901 and 84850, Education Code.
Reference: Sections 67310-67312 and 84850, Education Code

Blind and Low Vision/Vision Impairment (VI)
Blindness and low vision is defined as a level of vision that limits the student'​s ability to access the educational process.
Authority cited: Sections 67312, 70901 and 84850, Education Code.
Reference: Sections 67310-67312 and 84850, Education Code.

Deaf/Hard of Hearing (DHH)
Deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) is defined as a total or partial loss of hearing function that limits the student'​s ability to access the educational process.
Authority cited: Sections 67312, 70901 and 84850, Education Code.
Reference: Sections 67310-67312 and 84850, Education Code.

Intellectual Disability (ID)
Intellectual disability (ID) is defined as significant limitations both in intellectual functioning and in adaptive behavior that affect and limit the student's ability to access the educational process. An individual may have an intellectual disability when:

  1. the person's functioning level is below average intellectual ability; and
  2. the person has significant limitations in adaptive skill areas as expressed in conceptual, social, academic and practical skills in independent living and employment; and,
  3. the disability originated before the age of 18.

Authority cited: Sections 67312, 70901 and 84850, Education Code.
Reference: Sections 67310-67312 and 84850, Education Code.

Learning Disability (LD)
Learning disability (LD) is defined as a persistent condition of presumed neurological dysfunction which may exist with other disabling conditions. The dysfunction is not explained by lack of educational opportunity; lack of proficiency in the language of instruction or other non-neurological factors; and this dysfunction limits the student's ability to access the educational process.

To be categorized as a student with a learning disability, a student must meet the following criteria through psycho-educational assessment verified by a qualified specialist certified to assess learning disabilities:

  1. average to above-average intellectual ability; and
  2. statistically significant processing deficit(s); and/or
  3. statistically significant aptitude-achievement discrepancies.

Authority cited: Sections 67312, 70901 and 84850, Education Code.
Reference: Sections 67310-67312 and 84850, Education Code.​

Mental Health Disability
Mental health disability is defined as a persistent psychological or psychiatric disability, or emotional or mental illness that limits the student's ability to access the educational process. For purposes of this subchapter, conditions that are not described and/or excluded in the American Psychiatric Association Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) or the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) are not covered in this category.
Authority cited: Sections 67312, 70901 and 84850, Education Code.
Reference: Sections 67310-12 and 84850, Education Code; 42 U.S.C. Sec. 12101; American Psychiatric Association (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fifth ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing.​

Physical Disability
A physical disability encompasses a wide range of conditions and results in a limitation in one or more of the following areas.

  1. Walking in terms of distance, length of time or terrain
  2. Range of motion and/or reach
  3. Standing or sitting
  4. Cardio-pulmonary factors that affect breathing
  5. Other physical functions of the body

Authority cited: Sections 67312, 70901 and 84850, Education Code.
Reference: Sections 67310-67312 and 84850, Education Code​.

Other Health Conditions and Disabilities
This category includes all students with disabilities, as defined in Section 56002, with other health conditions and/or disabilities that affect a major life activity, which are otherwise not defined in Sections 56032-56042, but which limit the student's ability to access the educational process.
Authority cited: Sections 67312, 70901 and 84850, Education Code.
Reference: Sections 67310-12 and 84850, Education Code.