Module 4: Low Incidence Categories

Categories A, B, & C

Category A - Physically dependent-Multiple needs.

"A student with dependent needs is completely dependent on others for meeting all major daily living needs" (BC Ministry of Education, 2016). For these students, school would not be possible if they did not receive assistance at all times for toileting, dressing, feeding, mobility, and personal hygiene (BC Ministry of Education, 2016).

Category B - DeafBlind

"A student with deafblindness has a degree of visual and auditory impairment which, when compounded, results in significant difficulties in developing communicative, educational, vocational, avocational, and social skills." (BC Ministry of Education, 2016).

Category C - Moderate to profound ID

"Students have general intellectual functioning significantly below the mean (3 or more standard deviations), as well as significant limitations in adaptive functioning in at least 2 of the following skill areas as appropriate to the student's age: communication, self-care, home living, social/interpersonal skills, use of community resources, self direction, functional academic skills, work, leisure, health and safety" (BC Ministry of Education, 2016).

Some strategies for working with students in this category include using schedules, providing immediate feedback, keeping lessons short, teach life skills, model and role play expected behaviours, use hands-on activities, give extra time, use visuals, give extra time, use simple and clear language, and offer assistive technology.

Categories D & E

Category D - Physical Disabilities or Chronic Health Impairments

"A student is considered to have a physical disability or chronic health impairment based on the need for special educational services due to one or more of the following:

• nervous system impairment that impacts movement or mobility

• musculoskeletal condition

• chronic health impairment that seriously impacts students' education and achievement" (BC Ministry of Education, 2016)

Because of the variations of need for each physical disability, students only qualify for funding in this category if their functioning and education are seriously impacted because of the disability or impairment (BC Ministry of Education, 2016).

Some examples of chronic health impairments include cancer, epilepsy, diabetes, cystic fibrosis, and multiple sclerosis. While the symptoms for each impairment are very different and will need specialized supports in certain areas, some of the strategies that can be used to support the students are the same. These include providing extra time and flexibility for assignments, create strong communication between parents and teacher and between the student and their peers, create structure and routine that is easy for the student to return to, work on social emotional programs to build compassion and understanding, and using preferential seating.

Category E - Visual Impairment

"Visual impairment in a generic term that covers a range of difficulties with vision and includes the following categories: blind, legally blind, partially sighted, low vision, and cortically visually impaired.

Categories F, G, & H

Category F -Deaf or Hard of Hearing

"A student considered to be deaf or hard of hearing is one who has medically diagnosed hearing loss that results in a substantial educational difficulty" (BC Ministry of Education, 2016)

Category G - Autism Spectrum Disorder

"Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)is a term used to describe a lifelong neurodevelopmental disabilities characterized by the manifestation of behavioural characteristics across multiple areas of functioning. ASD is defined and diagnosed through the observation of behaviours. Characteristics are observed, in varying degrees, in social relationships, communicative competence, pattern and range of interests, and sensory responsiveness. The impact of ASD can range from mild to severe, and may improve or change across an individual’s life. Students with ASD exhibit impairments in: communication; reciprocal social interaction; and restricted repetitive patterns of interests and behaviours." (BC Ministry of Education, 2016).

Category H - Intensive Behaviour Intervention or Serious Mental Illness

"Students identified in this category are those most in need of intensive interventions. They are expected to be less than one percent (1%) of the student population province-wide. These students should have access to coordinated school/community interventions, which are based on inter-service/agency assessment processes that are required to manage, educate, and maintain the students in school and in their community." (BC Ministry of Education, 2016).