The Mechanicsburg Area School District provides a continuum of services and programs for exceptional students.  Many programs are district-operated, while others are a cooperative effort between the district, the Capital Area Intermediate Unit, through a consortium with local districts or contracted from other educational agencies to meet the specific needs of a student.  To qualify as an exceptional student, the child must be of school age, in need of Specially Designed Instruction, and meet eligibility criteria for mentally gifted and/or one or more of the following physical or mental disabilities, as set forth in Pennsylvania State regulations:  Autism, Deaf-blindness, Deafness, Emotional disturbance, Hearing impairment, Mental Retardation, Multiple disabilities, Orthopedic impairment, Other health impairment, Specific learning disability, Speech or language impairment, Traumatic brain injury, Visual impairment including blindness.