A developmental disability is defined by the Federal Government as a severe chronic disability which:

 

 A) is attributable to a mental or physical impairment;

 B) is manifest before age 22;

 C) is likely to continue indefinitely;

 D) results in substantial functional limitations in three or more of the following areas of major life activities;

                         

             1. Self Care

             2. Receptive & Expressive Language

             3. Learning Disabilities

             4. Self Direction

             5. Capacity for Independent Living

             6. Economic Self-Sufficiency

 

E) reflects the need for special, interdisciplinary, and/or generic forms of care, treatment or other services which are lifelong or of extended durations, and are individually planned and coordinated.

 

Some Specific Developmental Disabilities:

 

                          1)   Mental Retardation

                          2)   Epilepsy

                          3)   Autism

                          4)   Learning Disabilities

                          5)   Cerebral Palsy

                          6)   Down syndrome

                          7)   Neurological Impairments

                          8)   Tourette’s Syndrome

                          9)   Spina Bifida

                        10)   Neurofibromatosis

What is a Developmental Disability?