ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY SERVICES MAY DIFFER

BY LARRY LANDAUER

Parents of children with disabilities often find themselves immersed in previously unknown worlds, as they work to navigate a range of medical, social, community and public education resources to help their child and support their family.

However, many of these programs and services have differing eligibility criteria, so the fact that a child has a particular disability may or may not be enough to qualify them for certain benefits, services and supports. Adding to potential confusion is the fact that some governments may operate according to different definitions than others and different programs may have higher or lower bars for eligibility.

Here is a brief overview of conditions generally defined as developmental disabilities, and how this can affect eligibility criteria for public benefits.

TYPES OF DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES

There are four conditions that most professionals and governments recognize as developmental disabilities. These are: autism; intellectual (cognitive) disabilities such as Down syndrome; cerebral palsy; and epilepsy. (NOTE: Some places, such as California, also recognize a fifth category that encompasses a person who has a condition that is closely related to intellectual disability or requires treatment similar to a person with intellectual disability.)

DEFINING TERMS: Developmental disabilities are generally recognized to be disabilities that begin prior to age 18, affect the person's day-to-day functioning, are expected to last indefinitely, and are not strictly medical or psychiatric in nature.