About Developmental Disabilities

Developmental disabilities are a diverse group of severe chronic conditions that are due to mental and/or physical impairments. People with developmental disabilities have problems with major life activities such as language, mobility, learning, self-help, and independent living. Developmental disabilities begin anytime during development up to 22 years of age and usually last throughout a person’s lifetime.

Developmental disabilities activities at CDC include:

• Studying how common developmental disabilities are and who is more likely to have them
• Finding the causes of developmental disabilities and the factors that increase the chance that a person will have one
• Learning how people with developmental disabilities can improve the quality of their lives.

CDC’s activities focus on:

• Autism spectrum disorders
• Cerebral palsy
• Hearing loss
• Intellectual Disabilities
• Vision impairment

Efforts to improve the health of people with developmental disabilities
People with disabilities can live healthy lives. There are many federal and federally-funded programs that help people learn to live well with a disability. CDC has put together a list of some of these programs, including links to their Web sites so that you can learn more about them. [Read about improving health]

Resources for people with developmental disabilities and their families
CDC does not study education or treatment programs for people with developmental disabilities, nor does it provide direct services to people with developmental disabilities or to their families. However, CDC has put together a list of resources for people affected by developmental disabilities. [Go to the resources list]

Developmental disabilities activities at other federal agencies
CDC is not the only federal agency that has developmental disability activities. Click on the links below to learn about the activities at other federal programs. Many of these sites have some information in Spanish.

Administration on Developmental Disabilities (ADD)
ADD works to ensure that people with developmental disabilities and their families help decide what services they should get and that they indeed get the support and services they need. Service areas include education, employment, health, child care, housing, protection and advocacy, recreation, transportation, and quality assurance. ADD is part of the Administration for Children and Families.

Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS)
CMS has two programs, Medicaid and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, that can help children and adults with disabilities get health care coverage.

DisabilityInfo.gov
DisabilityInfo.gov has information about disabilities resources in the federal government. Topics include jobs, education, housing, transportation, health, income support, technology, community life, and civil rights.

Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB)
MCHB promotes the health of children and mothers. It has programs in areas such as children with special health care needs, newborn hearing screening, child health and safety, and genetics. MCHB is part of the Health Resources and Services Administration.

MEDLINEplus Health Information, National Library of Medicine
MEDLINEplus, an online service of the National Library of Medicine, links people to information about topics such as autism, cerebral palsy, hearing loss, mental retardation, and vision impairment.

National Council on Disability (NCD)
NCD ensures that people with disabilities have the same opportunities as people who do not have disabilities. It promotes policies and programs that help people with disabilities live on their own, support themselves, and take part in all aspects of society. NCD makes recommendations to the President and Congress on issues that affect Americans with disabilities.

National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Several institutes within NIH conduct and fund research about developmental disabilities. They also offer information to the public and educational programs for health professionals.

National Eye Institute (NEI)
NEI studies ways to prevent and treat eye diseases and vision problems and to improve the lives of people with these conditions.

National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
NICHD studies the impact that disabilities such as autism and mental retardation have on people’s lives, as well as possible causes and treatments of those disabilities.

National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
NIDCD studies hearing loss, deafness, and problems with speech and language.

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
NIMH studies mental illness and behavior problems, including such conditions as autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and learning disabilities.

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
NINDS studies the causes, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of brain and nervous system disorders such as cerebral palsy and epilepsy.

National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR)
NIDRR promotes the participation of all people with disabilities in their communities. It also helps communities provide opportunities and support for people with disabilities. NIDRR focuses on studies related to topics such as jobs, health, assistive technology, and independent living. NIDRR is part of the U.S. Department of Education.

Office of Disability Employment
The Office of Disability Employment works to increase job opportunities for people with disabilities. It promotes access to education, training, assistive technology and other support so that people with disabilities can get and keep jobs. It helps businesses increase the number of work options for people with disabilities. The Office of Disability Employment is part of the U.S. Department of Labor.

Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP)
OSEP works to improve the lives of children and youth with disabilities from birth to age 21 through education and support services. OSEP administers the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA), the federal law that supports special education and related services for children and youth with disabilities. OSEP is part of the U.S. Department of Education.

Office on Disability
The Office on Disability oversees the implementation of federal disability policies and programs. It works to remove barriers facing people with disabilities so they can participate more fully in their communities. It also fosters interactions between the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (of which it is a part), other federal agencies, state agencies, local agencies, and private sector groups.

Rehabilitative Services Administration (RSA)
RSA helps people with disabilities get jobs and live more independently. RSA is part of the U.S. Department of Education.