The TEFA Disability Certification Form Explained
- Accessible Education
- 3 hours ago
- 5 min read
Updated: 3 hours ago
Qualifying Disabilities, Authorized Providers, and the Purpose of the Disability Certification Form
In our last article, we explained how Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA)Â applications are prioritized and when families may need to submit a Disability Certification Form. In this follow-up, we take a closer look at the form itself: which disabilities qualify, what standards apply, and which licensed professionals are authorized to certify each condition.
Just as important, we’ll clarify a common misconception upfront:
The TEFA Disability Certification Form does not provide additional funding. Its sole function is to establish priority placement in the TEFA lottery.
Access to any disability-related funding requires a separate special education process referred to as "Child Find," which includes a Full and Individual Initial Evaluation (FIIE)Â and a formally developed Individualized Education Program (IEP)Â through a public school district.
What the TEFA Disability Certification Form Does and Does Not Do
The Disability Certification Form allows a qualified, licensed professional to attest that a child has a specific disability that adversely affects educational performance, based on medical or clinical evaluation within the scope of their professional training.
What the Form Is Used For
Establishing Tier 1 priority in the TEFA school voucher lottery
Documenting the presence of a qualifying disability when no IEP or FIIE is available
What the Form Is Not Used For
Determining the amount of TEFA funding
Establishing special education eligibility
Creating or substituting for an IEP
Granting access to special education services
Important Reminder: Disability Certification ≠Additional TEFA Funding
Families often assume that submitting disability documentation automatically unlocks additional education funds. Under TEFA, that is not the case.
To access any additional funding tied to disability, a student must:
Receive a Full and Individual Initial Evaluation (FIIE)Â through their local public school district
Qualify for special education under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
Have an Individualized Education Program (IEP)Â formally written
Without an FIIE and IEP, the Disability Certification Form affects priority only, not funding.
TEFA-Recognized Disability Categories (IDEA-Aligned)
The TEFA program follows federal special education law under IDEA. The 13 disability categories listed below may qualify a student for certification when the disability has an adverse impact on educational performance. Each category links to the corresponding Texas Legal Framework guidance outlining the legal eligibility requirements.
1. Autism
A developmental disability significantly affecting verbal and nonverbal communication and social interaction, typically evident before age three. It is important to note that the educational criteria for autism under IDEA are not the same as the medical diagnostic criteria.
Combined hearing and visual impairments causing severe communication and developmental needs that cannot be accommodated in programs for one impairment alone.
A hearing impairment that limits the ability to process linguistic information and adversely affects educational performance.
A condition exhibited over a long period and to a marked degree, including persistent emotional or behavioral characteristics that interfere with learning. Eligibility is based on educational impact, not diagnosis alone. Some students qualify with a DSM-5 diagnosis, while others meet criteria without one.
Significantly subaverage intellectual functioning with concurrent deficits in adaptive behavior, manifested during the developmental period.
Concomitant impairments (excluding deaf-blindness) that create severe educational needs requiring specialized programming. This category is often misunderstood; it does not mean a student has more than one disability, but rather that the combined impact of those disabilities creates unique educational needs.
A severe orthopedic condition caused by congenital anomaly, disease, or injury that adversely affects educational performance.
Limited strength, vitality, or alertness due to chronic or acute health conditions such as ADHD, epilepsy, diabetes, asthma, or Tourette syndrome.
A disorder in one or more basic psychological processes affecting reading, writing, listening, speaking, or math, excluding issues caused primarily by other disabilities or environmental factors. Eligibility for SLD in schools is often more nuanced than a private diagnosis, as schools use specific educational criteria. Learn more about how SLD is evaluated and identified in our SLD series.
A communication disorder, such as stuttering, articulation impairment, language impairment, or voice impairment.
An acquired brain injury caused by external force resulting in functional or psychosocial impairment affecting educational performance.
A vision impairment that persists even with correction and adversely affects educational performance.
For children ages 3–9, delays in one or more developmental areas when a specific disability cannot yet be clearly identified.
Noncategorical Early Childhood
A classification for young children whose disabilities do not yet align with a specific eligibility category. While it may still appear on certain TEFA-related forms or guidance, this category is being retired and will no longer apply in Texas after the 2025–26 school year.
Who Can Complete the TEFA Disability Certification Form?
Not every licensed professional can certify every disability. Signatures must align with their professional scope of practice.
General Certifications
Many disabilities may be certified by:
Licensed physicians
Licensed psychologists
Educational diagnosticians
Condition-Specific Requirements
Hearing Loss:Â Licensed audiologist
Orthopedic Impairment:Â Licensed physician
Traumatic Brain Injury:Â Licensed physician
Other Health Impairment:Â Physician, PA, or APRN
Speech Impairment:Â Licensed Speech-Language Pathologist
Special Certification Rules for Visual Impairment
Visual impairment certification requires a single unified form signed by three specialists:
Licensed ophthalmologist or optometrist
Certified teacher of students with visual impairments
Certified orientation and mobility specialist
All three must initial and sign the same form. Separate forms cannot be combined.
Submission Deadlines & Key Timing
Parents can upload the completed Disability Certification Form during the 2026 TEFA application window: February 4 – March 17
If your child already has a current IEP on file with the Texas Education Agency, the form is not required.
Help for Parents Navigating TEFA Disability Priority and Special Education Eligibility
For families seeking additional disability-based TEFA funding, the most confusing step is often understanding whether their child qualifies for special education services through a local public school district, especially when the child attends private school or is homeschooled.
We support families at every stage of the initial special education evaluation process. Families work with us whether they plan to pursue TEFA funding or simply want to better understand their child’s special education rights, options, and documentation.
If you’d like a detailed overview of the different ways we help families, including full-service advocacy, hybrid support, and upcoming self-guided resources, you can read our in-depth guide to special education evaluations for private and home school families and TEFA support options here.
To explore all available services, visit our website, or if you’re feeling unsure about next steps, you can request a free consultation to talk through your family’s situation and determine what level of support makes sense. Subscribe and follow us on Facebook and YouTube.
This information is based on official guidance from the Texas Comptroller’s office, including the Disability Certification Form Instructions, the Disability Certification Form, and Information for Providers, all available at EducationFreedom.Texas.Gov.