Definition
Developmental disabilities (DD) is an umbrella term for a group of interrelated, chronic, neurological, or brain-based disorders which are defined as severe, chronic disabilities “attributable to mental and/or physical impairments, manifested before age 22, that result in substantial limitations in three or more areas of major life activities: capacity for independent living, economic self-sufficiency, learning, mobility, receptive and expressive language, self-care, self-direction” (Developmental Disabilities Assistance & Bill of Rights Act of 2000). Low IQ scores are typically associated with DD, but other conditions may impose functional limitations on individuals whose intelligence is at or above average. Sensory impairments are included only as occurring in combination with impairment in intellectual and adaptive functioning. The current conceptualization includes diagnostic classifications of intellectual...
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References and Further Reading
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Dowling, M. (2019). Developmental Disabilities. In: Gellman, M. (eds) Encyclopedia of Behavioral Medicine. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6439-6_738-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6439-6_738-2
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