The Arc of Western Wayne County: Serving people with disabilities

The Take Charge Helpline

Developmental Disability Definition

If an individual is more than five years old, the statutory definition of developmental disability is a severe, chronic condition that meets all of the following requirements:

• the disability is attributable to a mental or physical impairment or a combination of mental and physical impairments;
• is manifested before the individual is 22 years old;
• is likely to continue indefinitely;
• the disability results in substantial functional limitations in 3 or more of the following areas of major life activity such as self care, receptive and expressive language, learning, mobility, self-direction, capacity for independent living, or economic self sufficiency; and
• the last requirement is that the disability reflects the individual’s need for a combination and sequence of special, interdisciplinary or generic care, treatment, or other services that are of lifelong or extended duration and are individually planned and coordinated.

From birth to age five, a developmental disability is defined as a substantial developmental delay or a specific congenital or acquired condition with a high probability of resulting in developmental disability if services are not provided.

Phone code: 1507