Developmental disabilities include a complex group of disorders that cause physical impairments, intellectual disabilities, speech disorders, and medical conditions. Developmental disabilities are sometimes diagnosed at birth, but more often, are not easily identified until ages three to six.

Types of Developmental Disabilities

Developmental disabilities may range from mild to severe. Some of the more common developmental disabilities include:¹

• Autism
• Cerebral palsy
• Chromosome abnormalitiessuch as trisomies
• Down syndrome
• Fetal alcoholand drug-related syndromes
• Fragile X syndrome
• Genetic disorders
• Intellectual disabilities
• Spina bifida
• Tourette syndrome
• Velocardiofacial syndrome

Developmental Delay vs. Disability

Very often, doctors will refer to a child’s developmental disabilities as “developmental delays.” This euphemistic term can be very misleading. After all, a train that’s delayed does finally arrive at the station—and delayed gratification isn’t the same thing as NO gratification!

The vast majority of developmental disabilities are genetic in origin. It is not…