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Parent Resources

The nation’s special education law is called the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA. As part of making special education and related services available to children with disabilities in the public schools, IDEA defines the term “child with a disability.” That definition includes specific disability terms or categories, which are also defined by IDEA. In order to fully meet the definition (and eligibility for special education and related services) as a “child with a disability,” a child’s educational performance must be adversely affected due to the disability. The 13 areas or categories defined by IDEA are:

  • Autism
  • Deaf-blindness
  • Deafness
  • Emotional disturbance
  • Hearing impairment 
  • Intellectual disability
  • Multiple disabilities
  • Orthopedic impairment
  • Other health impairment
  • Speech-Language impairment
  • Specific learning disability
  • Traumatic brain injury
  • Visual impairment, including blindness

(Adapted from the Center for Parent Information and Resources)

Procedural Safeguards

Parents of a child with a disability have protection under the procedural safeguards (rights) of special education law/IDEA. A notice of parents’ rights under IDEA can be accessed here:

Procedural Safeguards - English Version                Procedural Safeguards - Spanish Version

Contacting Your School

If you would like additional information regarding special education in Horry County Schools, please contact your local school.

Our Schools

Additional Resources

The following federal, state and/or locally sponsored websites provide additional information relating to IDEA.