Easter Seals Southwest Florida

The term developmental disabilities is defined by Florida’s Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) as a condition that results in a significant mental or physical disability, that occurs before the age of 18 (during the “developmental years”) and continues through out one’s life, and significantly affects the individual’s ability to function. Individuals who have a developmental disability often require varying amounts of assistance in performing activities of daily living.

A developmental delay is a term used to describe a large difference between a child’s current abilities compared to what the child should be able to do according to traditional developmental milestone guidelines. Such delays are measured and explained by developmental screenings that can be completed by a pediatrician or other child development specialists. Developmental delays can lead to developmental disability if the delays are not improved by quality early intervention services.

The state of Florida recognizes five (5) disabilities as developmental disabilities, which serve as qualifiers to participate in the state’s MedWaiver program.
Those five include:
• Mental retardation
• Autism
• Cerebral palsy
• Spina bifida
• Prader-Willi syndrome

Developmental disabilities include limitations in functional abilities. Seven (7) main functional areas play a key role in further defining a developmental disability. Impairments must be present in at least three (3) functional elements to be considered a developmental disability.
These areas are:
• Self-care
• Receptive & expressive language
• Learning
• Mobility
• Self-direction
• Independent living
• Economic self-sufficiency

Examples of functional disabilities that include substantial function limitations, but that are not identified and categorized by APD, are:
• Head injury
• Mental illness*
• Hearing loss
• Vision loss
• Epilepsy
*Mental illness should not be confused with mental retardation. Individuals with mental retardation typically experience life-long below average intelligence while those with mental illness typically are not compromised intellectually and their illness can be controlled with medication and treatment.

All people deserve the same rights and most societies strive to maintain the rights of individuals with and without disabilities equally. Quality of life variables are important for everyone and should serve as guiding philosophical principles when working with individuals with disabilities, who are often a vulnerable population. We at Easter Seals Southwest Florida believe in providing programming and opportunities that maximize a person’s quality of life in the following areas:
• Participation
• Friendship
• Relationships
• Interdependence
• Independence
• Meaningful activities
• Motivation
• Choice
• Respect

Material adapted from Agency for Persons with Disabilities’ Introduction to Developmental Disabilities Classroom Participant’s Guide, November 2008.