Disability and Childhood

[Page 458]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. These conditions begin during the developmental period, may impact day-to-day functioning, and usually last throughout a person’s lifetime.” The CDC estimates that one in six, or about 15% of, children aged 3 through 17 years in the United States has at least one disability. Disabilities that occur in childhood often fall under the umbrella of what is referred to as “developmental disabilities.” There are many types of disabilities, and the same type of disability can affect people differently. Disabilities may result in a variety of limitations or restrictions that are affected by factors such as environment, age, ...