6.1.1: What Is a Developmental Disability?

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Erin O'Hara-Leslie, Amdra C. Wade, Kimberly B. McLain, SUNY Broome

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A disability is an impairment of functioning. Functional impairments may be physical (affect the body) or cognitive (affect mental functioning). A developmental disability is a disability that may affect physical, cognitive, learning, language, or behavioral development (CDC, 2015c). This means that there may be a developmental delay in normal development (how a person grows and functions) or an impairment of functioning (the person may not be able to function according to normal developmental processes). Developmental disabilities occur across all gender, racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups. According to the CDC (2015c), about 1 in 6 children have a developmental disability or a developmental delay.

Developmental disabilities begin in young childhood, may impact a child’s ability to function in one or more areas, and may continue throughout the person’s life. Parents, caregivers, teachers, and medical professionals may notice that a child is not progressing according to normal developmental milestones. Developmental milestones are things that a child typically does around a certain age (CDC, 2015b). For example, around 18 months old, a child is able to walk, is beginning to feed themselves, and can say several words (CDC, 2015b). Around 5 years old, a child typically speaks clearly, can print letters and numbers, is able to toilet themselves, and can do things such as hop, skip, and jump (CDC, 2015b). When parents and caregivers notice their child is not reaching typical developmental milestones, they may express their concern to a medical professional. The medical professional can assess the child using a variety of Developmental Screening Tools.

For more information on developmental milestones, you can visit CDC.gov(www.cdc.gov), which is your online source for credible health information and is the official Web site of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). You can link directly to information about Developmental Milestones at: http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/m...nes/index.html.

Self Check Activity \(\PageIndex{1}\)

1. A developmental disability means there is impairment in at least one aspect of normal development, including physical, cognitive, learning, language, or behavioral development. True or False? ____________

2. Which of the following might be an example of an impairment of development? Select all that apply.

a). A 5 year old child being unable to walk.

b). An 18 month old child does not look directly at other people and does not like to be touched.

c). A 2 year old child has not yet learned to crawl.

d). A baby smiles at his mother.

e). A 7 year old child has not yet said her first words.

f). A toddler plays with blocks with her sister.

3. If a HHA/PCA notices a child with whom he or she works does not appear to be reaching developmental milestones, he or she should speak to a supervisor about these concerns. True or False?

Answer: C, D, F, G, H, J