What is a Developmental Disability?

North Carolina General Statute 122C-3(12a) defines a developmental disability as "a severe, chronic disability of a person which:

• is attributable to a mental or physical impairment or combination of mental and physical impairments;
• is manifested before the person attains age 22, unless the disability is caused by traumatic head injury and is manifested after age 22;
• is likely to continue indefinitely;
• results in substantial functional limitations in three or more of the following area of major life activity:
  • self-care
  • receptive (understanding) and expressive language
  • learning
  • mobility (ability to move)
  • self-direction (motivation)
  • the capacity for independent living
  • economic self-sufficiency
• reflects the person's need for a combination or sequence of special, interdisciplinary, generic services, individual supports, or other forms of assistance which are of a lifelong or extended duration and are individually planned and coordinated;
• an individual from birth to age nine, inclusive, who has a substantial developmental delay or specific congenital or acquired condition, may be considered to have a developmental disability without meeting at least three of the above "areas of major life activities," if the individual, without services and supports, has a high probability of meeting those criteria later in life."

Developmental disabilities are disabling conditions that occur before adulthood and have a sustained impact upon an individual's cognitive, social, or physical development. Developmental disabilities usually involve dysfunction of, or injury to, the central nervous system.

Developmental disabilities include autism, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, mental retardation, neurological impairment, or a related condition that has a substantial impact on a person's ability to function independently.   Neurological impairments include such specific conditions as neurologically based severe learning disabilities, spina bifida, Tourette syndrome, neurofibromatosis, narcolepsy, traumatic brain injury (originating before age 22), Prader-Willi syndrome, and sensory impairments caused by central nervous system disorders.

The needs of people with developmental disabilities vary widely according to the type and severity of the condition, age and other factors. At one end of the spectrum are those who require total care for their entire lives, while at the other end are people able to attain complete independence with minimal and/or periodic support services. Most people with developmental disabilities can live in the community and lead productive lives.