Which of the following is NOT one of the IDEA's 13 disability categories?

• A. Autism Spectrum Disorder
• B. Deaf-Blindness
• C. Executive Dysfunction
• D. Speech and Language Impairment

Answer: (C)

Under IDEA, eligibility for special education hinges on being identified under one of the defined disability categories that the law recognizes. Autism Spectrum Disorder, Deaf-Blindness, and Speech or Language Impairment are all among those recognized categories, used for eligibility determinations and IEP planning. Executive dysfunction, by contrast, describes a set of executive-function difficulties (like planning, organization, self-control) that can appear across multiple conditions, but it is not itself a separate IDEA disability category. Because the categories are specific statutory labels, a student with executive-function challenges would be evaluated under whichever listed category best fits their primary need (for example, a learning disability or Other Health Impairment if health factors apply), rather than a standalone category.