Sensory Disabilities

“Sensory disabilities” can involve any of the five senses, but for educational purposes, it generally refers to a disability related to hearing, vision, or both hearing and vision. 

Sensory disabilities affect access – access to visual and/or auditory information. Most content information is presented visually and/or auditorily in the classroom. It is important that children experiencing a vision and/or a hearing loss are appropriately identified to ensure access to education.

Overview

Deaf - Blindness

The Regulations Governing Special Education Programs for Children with Disabilities in Virginia (effective July 7, 2009) defines the term as follows:

“Deaf-Blindness” means hearing and visual impairments occurring at the same time, the combination of which causes such severe communication and other developmental and educational needs that they cannot be accommodated in special education programs solely for children with deafness or children with blindness.  34 CFR §  300.7 (c) (3); 8VAC20-81-10.

Deaf & Hard of Hearing

The Regulations Governing Special Education Programs for Children with Disabilities in Virginia (effective July 7, 2009) defines the term as follows:

“Hearing Impairment” means an impairment in hearing, whether permanent or fluctuating, that adversely affects a child’s educational performance but that is not included under the definition of deafness in this section. 34 CFR § 300.7 (c) (5) .

"Deafness" means a hearing impairment that is so severe that the child is impaired in processing linguistic information through hearing, with or without amplification, that adversely affects the child’s educational performance. 34 CFR § 300.7 (c) (3).

Visual Impairment Including Blindness

The Regulations Governing Special Education Programs for Children with Disabilities in Virginia (effective July 7, 2009) defines the term as follows:

“Visual impairment including blindness” means an impairment in vision that, even with correction, adversely affects a child’s educational performance.  The term includes both partial sight and blindness. (34 CFR §300.8(c) (13).