The services that are offered today specialize in treating people as individuals, and incorporating families and communities into their everyday lives. Developmental disabilities are conditions that become apparent during childhood and cause mental or physical limitations. These conditions include, autism, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, mental retardation, and other neurological impairments. The causes vary greatly and can occur before, during or after birth. The first disability that I discussed was mental retardation.
Mental retardation is classified on the following three criteria.
The first is that the person has an I.Q. of less then 70-75. Secondly, the person has significant limitations in two or more of those skills that one needs for everyday life, work and play. Lastly it is present from childhood, which is considered under age eighteen. The second disability is cerebral palsy, which is a group of conditions that result in limited or abnormal functioning in the parts of the brain that control movement. They have difficulty with muscular coordination, and they often are unable to see, speak, hear or learn as others do.