Definition of Disability

"A child is disabled if he is blind, deaf or dumb or suffers from a mental disorder of any kind or is substantially and permanently handicapped by illness, injury or congenital deformity or such other disability as may be prescribed"

"A person has a disability for the purposes of this Act if he has a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on this ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities"

It would be noted that students may fall within one or more of these definitions. Students with a disability will have special educational needs if they have any difficulty accessing education and if they need any special educational provision made for them.