A developmental disability is a severe, chronic disability which:
- is attributable to a mental or physical impairment or combination of mental and physical impairments;
- is manifested before age 22;
- is likely to continue indefinitely;
- results in substantial functional limitations in three or more of the following areas of major life activity:
- self-care
- receptive and expressive language
- learning
- mobility
- self-direction
- capacity for independent living
- economic sufficiency
- reflects the person’s need for a combination and sequence of special, interdisciplinary, or generic care, treatment, or other services which are of lifelong or extended duration and are individually planned and coordinated.
Within each disability there is a range in conditions from mild to severe. Several handicapping conditions are most associated with developmental disabilities – two of which, mental retardation and cerebral palsy affect the most children with the greatest severity.
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Child Welfare Information Gateway