What does the term developmentally disabled mean?
A developmental disability occurs before a person reaches 22 years of age and causes a substantial impairment of intellectual functioning. (An impairment of intellectual functioning generally means that the person has an IQ of 70 or below.) Sometimes a person can have an IQ above 70 and be considered developmentally disabled if they have impaired adaptive behaviors in at least two skill areas. The skill areas include: communication, self-care, home living, social skills, community use, self direction, health and safety, functional academics, leisure, and work. Developmental disabilities are most often attributable to mental retardation, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism or other neurological conditions.
