What Are Developmental Disabilities?
March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. In honor of this month and to help spread awareness, we wanted to share with you some facts and resources about developmental disabilities. We’ll also be highlighting a developmental disability weekly throughout the month of March on our Facebook page, along with some helpful resources.
What is a Developmental Disability?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, developmental disabilities are a group of conditions due to an impairment in physical, learning, language, or behavior areas. About one in six children in the U.S. have one or more developmental disabilities or other developmental delays.
Examples of Developmental Disabilities
Some developmental disabilities are visible, while others are not. Developmental disabilities can include:
Autism Spectrum Disorders
Cerebral Palsy
Attention-deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
Fragile X Syndrome
Intellectual Disability or Learning Disability
Kernicterus Muscular Dystrophy
Tourette Syndrome
Hearing loss
Vision impairment
Other developmental delays
Living with a Developmental Disability
According to the CDC, “Having a disability does not mean that a person is unhealthy or that he or she cannot be healthy. Being healthy means the same thing for all of us - getting and staying well so we can lead full, active lives.”
Good health for everyone starts with having the proper tools to make healthy choices. Spirit Club is an organization making fitness accessible for all, a place where anyone can successfully work towards their fitness goals. According to their site, they “believe exercise is not only essential to living a happy and healthy life, it is also a human right.”
Learn more about what Spirit Club offers.
Helpful Resources & Videos
Below are several resources and informative pieces related to developmental disabilities:
CDC Resources and Materials: The CDC provides informative materials that cover a large variety of developmental disabilities. You can view them here.
Special Books By Special Kids: Founded in 2016, SBSK is a 501(c)3 organization that seeks to normalize the diversity of the human condition under the pillars of honesty, respect, mindfulness, positivity, and collaboration. This multi-media movement supports the acceptance and inclusion of all members of the neurodiverse/disability community regardless of diagnosis, age, race, religion, income, sexual orientation, gender, or gender expression. View the videos here.
The Arc: The Arc offers a large variety of resources, including those related to policy and advocacy. According to their website, they have been at the forefront of the fight for the civil rights and inclusion of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities for nearly 70 years, playing a lead role in major victories in civil rights, community living, education, income security, and other important issues. Learn more here.
Enabling Technology: Our technology at SimplyHome is redefining quality of life by empowering individuals while addressing the concerns of caregivers and family members. Our sensor-based systems are designed to alleviate concerns such as cooking safety, cueing independence, missed medications, dementia-related problems, and the risk of wandering or falls. Caregivers are notified only when they are needed, promoting the highest level of independence possible for the individual. View our solutions.
Check out our Facebook page this month to learn more about developmental disabilities.