Disability and its importance for science education When it comes to diversity in the classroom, one of the key issues teachers face is that of disability. The issue of disability affects not only science teachers, but all teachers. For this reason, it is important to understand the different types of disabilities and some of the strategies teachers should use to accommodate student differences. There are many types of disabilities, and they can be either learning disabilities or emotional and behavioral disorders. Disabled child means a child assessed in accordance with §300.304 through §300.311 as having mental retardation, hearing impairment (including deafness), speech or language impairment, visual impairment (including blindness), disorder severe emotional disorder (referred to in this section as emotional disorders), orthopedic impairment, autism, traumatic brain injury, other health disorder, specific learning disability, deafblindness or multiple disabilities, and who therefore , requires special education and related services (Aid to States for the Education of Children with Disabilities, 2007). First of all, it is important to understand the different types of disabilities. As the definition of a disabled child above shows, there are several types of disabilities. Disabilities are based on the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and each disability involves instances in which a child's academic performance is negatively affected (National Outreach Center for Children with Disabilities, 2010). Some disabilities are more common than others, but it is important for teachers to be aware of each type of disability. Once...... middle of paper ......the many types of disabilities and the symptoms of each disability. Once teachers understand disabilities, they can begin to use some “best practices” to effectively teach students with disabilities. Works Cited Assistance to States for the Education of Disabled Children, 34 CFR pt. 3 (2007)National Broadcast Center for Children with Disabilities. (2010, September). Disability categories according to IDEA. Retrieved from http://nichcy.org/disability/categoriesBoard of Directors of the National Science Teachers Association. (2004, May). NSTA Position Statement: Students with Disabilities. Retrieved from http://www.nsta.org/about/positions/disabilities.aspxNorman, K., Caseua, D., Stefanich, G. (1998). Teaching students with disabilities in inclusive science classrooms: Survey results. Science education, 82(2), 127-146.