The Lancaster School District actively encourages parents or community members who know of a child (birth to age 22) who may have special needs to contact their local school. Once referred to special education, students are assessed to determine a disability and its impact on school performance. Based on the assessment, the IEP team will determine eligibility and services will be offered in the least restrictive environment in accordance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Students with any of the following disabilities may be eligible for special education services: autism, hearing impaired including deafness, deaf-blindness, emotionally disturbed, speech and language impairment, intellectual disability, orthopedic impairment, multiple disabilities, specific learning disability, traumatic brain injury, other health impairment, visual impairment. All assessments are followed by an Individual Education Plan (IEP) team meeting, at which parents, teacher, and staff determine eligibility, specific goals, and services.