What are Developmental Disabilities?

Section 102(8) of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act (P.L. 160-402) of 2000 defines the term "developmental disability" as a severe, chronic disability of an individual that:

a.) is attributable to a mental or physical impairment or combination of mental and physical impairments;

b.) is manifested before the person attains age twenty-two (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: (a) self care, (b) receptive and expressive language, (c) learning, (d) mobility, (e) self-direction, (f) capacity for independent living, (g) economic self-sufficiency; and

e.) 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; except that such term, when applied to infants and young children means individuals from birth to age five, inclusive, who have substantial developmental delay or specific congenital or acquired conditions with a high probability of resulting in developmental disabilities if services are

(B) INFANTS AND YOUNG CHILDREN.- An individual from birth to age 9, inclusive, who has a substantial developmental delay or specific congenital or acquired condition, may be considered to have a developmental disability without meeting 3 or more of the criteria described in clauses (a) through (e) of subparagraph (A) if the individual, without services and supports, has a high probability of meeting those criteria later in life.