IDEA: VI Eligibility Criteria for K-12

Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), states and territories in the United States are required to provide free and appropriate public education to eligible children with disabilities. This includes students who are blind, have low vision, or are deafblind. However, the specific criteria for determining eligibility can vary significantly from one state or territory to another, as IDEA allows local education agencies some flexibility in defining disability categories and eligibility requirements.

For a student to be eligible under the category of visual impairment, including blindness, states generally require a certain level of visual acuity or field loss as diagnosed by a qualified professional. The criteria often include an acuity of 20/70 or worse in the better eye after correction or a visual field of 20 degrees or less. For children who are deafblind, eligibility typically requires a combination of both hearing and visual impairments that cause severe communication, developmental, and educational issues. These impairments must be such that they cannot be accommodated in special education programs solely for children with blindness or deafness.

Eligibility determination is a critical process that involves assessments by educational professionals, often including vision and hearing specialists, to ensure that each child’s unique needs are met according to the specific criteria set forth by their state or territory. The goal is to provide tailored educational services that will best support the student’s learning and development.

Here, you will be able to search our database and browse by state for the most current information available to us. Please note that while we strive to keep our data up to date, there may be instances where changes in legislation or policy are not immediately reflected in our database.