What is a Disability?

The definition of a developmental disability includes, but is not limited to: an intellectual disability, autism, cerebral palsy, a severe head injury that occurred before the age of 22, or a severe seizure disorder.

Under federal law, "developmental disability" means a severe, chronic disability of an individual that:

• attributable to a mental or physical impairment or combination of mental and physical impairments
• manifests before the individual attains 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
  • reflects the individual's need for a combination and sequence of special, interdisciplinary, or generic services, individualized supports, or other forms of assistance that are of lifelong or extended duration and are individually planned and coordinated.
  • economic self-sufficiency; and
  • capacity for independent living
  • self-direction
  • mobility