Qualifying Developmental Disabilities

Autism, or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects how a person experiences the world, communicates, learns, and interacts with others.

Down syndrome is a genetic condition. It happens when a person is born with an extra copy of chromosome 21 (so three instead of two). This extra genetic material affects how the body and brain develop.

Cerebral palsy is a condition that affects how a person moves and controls their muscles. It happens because the brain did not develop in the usual way before or shortly after birth.

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder characterized by recurrent, unprovoked seizures caused by sudden bursts of electrical activity in the brain. It is a spectrum condition that varies widely in symptoms, frequency and by person.

An intellectual (cognitive) disability affects how a person learns, understands information, and solves problems.

For children under age six, DDD can serve them not only if they already have a diagnosed developmental disability, but also if they are “at-risk for having a developmental disability.”