International Perspectives on Developmental Disabilities

Developmental disabilities are defined as a group of conditions caused by an impairment in one or more developmental domains, such as physical, learning, communication, behavior, or self-help. The term developmental disabilities refers to a large array of impairments, including common intellectual disabilities (formerly referred to as “mental retardation”) such as autism spectrum disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and Down syndrome. Often these disabilities are present at birth, become more apparent as a child progresses to adolescence, and continue to have lasting impacts throughout adulthood. Developmental disabilities affect children globally, regardless of race, ethnicity, and country of birth. However, children from countries with higher poverty and deprivation are more likely to be adversely impacted. In these low-income and middle-income countries, risk factors are greater, screening is more ...