ODDPC - What is a Developmental Disability?

What is a developmental disability?

Approximately two of every 100 Americans have a developmental disability. The federal government and state of Ohio define a developmental disability as a severe, chronic disability of a person that:

Is attributable to a mental or physical impairment or combination of mental and physical impairments

Is manifested before the person reaches age 22

Is likely to continue indefinitely

Results in substantial functional limitations in three or more areas of major life activity - Self-care - Receptive and expressive language - Learning - Mobility - Self-direction - Capacity for independent living - Economic self-sufficiency

Ohio bases eligibility for service on a person's degree of limitation in various areas of life activity.

Based on the 2000 census showing Ohio's population to be 11,353,140 and using the national prevalence rate of 1.8%*, an estimated 204,357 people with developmental disabilities live in Ohio.

* Estimated by Golay & Associates and suggested by the Federal Administration on Developmental Disabilities as the rate to use to extrapolate state level prevalence rates.