Welcome to Low Incidence

Low Incidence refers to disability areas that occur rarely or in low numbers. In Minnesota there are seven disability categories that are considered low incidence: Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH), DeafBlindness (DB), Developmental Cognitive Disabilities (DCD), Physically Impaired (PI), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Vision Impairment (VI), and Severe Multiple Impairment (SMI).

Regions 6 & 8 Low Incidence Projects are sponsored by two federal grants, Low Incidence (LI) and Regional Comprehensive System for Personnel Development (R-CSPD).

For information and resources on each disability area, regional facilitators, and to access materials in the Judy Wolff Library, visit:
The MN Low Incidence Projects

LI Categories

DAPE

Developmental Adapted Physical Education (DAPE) is specially designed physical education instruction and services for pupils with disabilities who have a substantial delay or disorder in physical development. It may include development of physical fitness, motor fitness, fundamental motor skills and patterns, skills in aquatics, dance, individual and group games, and sports.

Minnesota Low Incidence DAPE Webpage

Minnesota DAPE Webpage

Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) means a diminished sensitivity to sound, or hearing loss, that is expressed in terms of standard audiological measures. Hearing loss has the potential to affect educational, communicative, or social functioning that may result in the need for special education instruction and related services.

Regional Staff and Services

MDE Deaf/Hard of Hearing Webpage

DeafBlind

Developmental Cognitive Disabilities

Developmental Cognitive Disabilities (DCD), which includes students labeled DCD Mild-Moderate and DCD Severe-Profound, is defined as a condition that results in intellectual functioning significantly below average and that is associated with concurrent deficits in adaptive behavior that require special education and related services.

MDE Developmental Cognitive Disabilities page

Other Health Disabilities

Other Health Disabilities (OHD) is defined as a wide range of chronic or acute health conditions that may be either congenital or acquired. Health disabilities may be mild or severe, progressive, and/or have symptoms that vary in intensity from day to day. Medications, treatments, therapies, and repeated hospitalizations for a range of chronic or acute health conditions can affect a student’s ability to learn and function at school.

Regional Staff and Services

Minnesota Low Incidence OHD Webpage

Physically Impaired

Physically Impaired (PI) is a low incidence disability area that is represented by approximately 1% of all students in Minnesota receiving special education services. PI is defined as a medically diagnosed, chronic physical impairment - either congenital or acquired - that may adversely affect physical or academic functioning and result in the need for special education and related services.

Regional Staff and Services

Minnesota Low Incidence PI Webpage

Severely Multiply Impaired

Severely Multiply Impaired (SMI) means a student who has severe learning and developmental problems resulting from two or more disability conditions, including deaf/hard of hearing, physically impaired, developmental cognitive disability: severe-profound range, visually impaired, emotional or behavioral disorders, or autism spectrum disorders.

Regional Staff and Services

MDE Severely Multiply Impaired Webpage

Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a low incidence special education category that is defined as an injury to the brain caused by an external physical force, resulting in total or partial functional disability and/or psycho-social impairment that may adversely affect a student's performance and result in the need for special education and related services. The term does not apply to brain injuries that are congenital or degenerative, or brain injuries induced by birth trauma.

Regional Staff and Services

Minnesota Low Incidence Projects TBI Webpage

Visually Impaired

Visually Impaired (BVI) means a medically verified visual impairment accompanied by limitations in sight that interfere with acquiring information or interaction with the environment to the extent that special education instruction and related services may be needed.

Regional Staff and Services

Orientation and Mobility Services

MDE Blind/Visually Impaired Webpage

LI Administration

Cassandra Gohman

Title: Staff Development & Low Incidence Administrator

Phone Numbers:
Work: 320-231-5184