Intellectual Disability

Developmental Disability

Intellectual disability is characterized by significant limitations both in intellectual functioning and in adaptive behavior which covers many everyday social and practical skills.

This disability originates before age 18.

Adaptive behavior is expressed in conceptual, social and practical adaptive skills.

1. Limitations are considered within the typical environments of the person’s age peers and culture.
2. Assessments consider cultural and linguistic diversity as well as differences in communication, sensory, motor and behavioral factors.
3. Within an individual, limitations often coexist with strengths.
4. The purpose of describing limitations is to develop a profile of needed supports.
5. With appropriate personalized supports over a sustained period, the life functioning of the person with an intellectual disability generally will improve.

A severe, chronic disability of an individual 5 years of age or older which is manifested before the age of 22 and likely to continue indefinitely. Results in substantial functional limitations in three or more of the following areas of major life activity:

1. Self-care
2. Receptive and expressive language
3. Learning
4. Mobility
5. Self-direction
6. Capacity of independent living
7. Economic self-sufficiency

Developmental disabilities can include people with epilepsy, autism, intellectual disability and cerebral palsy. However the focus is on the severity of the disability and how well the person functions in the major life areas. All people with an intellectual disability have a developmental disability however, not all people with a developmental disability have an intellectual disability.