Developmental Disability Programs
Overview
Linn County Developmental Disability programs offer a wide range of services to support individuals in our local community. We respect diverse family cultures, honor individual lifestyle choices and are committed to a proactive team approach.
Developmental disabilities are a disability diagnosed as a mental or physical condition or a combination of mental and physical conditions resulting in significant impairments to daily functioning. The disability:
- Must have its origin in the brain
- Must be established prior to the age of 22, or in the case of intellectual disability the condition must be determined before 18 years of age
- Must be expected to last indefinitely
- Must result in significant impairments in at least two areas of daily functioning:
- self care
- communication
- cognition
- mobility
- self direction
- capacity for independent living and economic self sufficiency
- The impairments must not be primarily related to: mental illness, substance abuse, an emotional disorder, Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), a learning disability or sensory impairment
The most common developmental disabilities include: intellectual disability, Down syndrome, autism, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and fetal alcohol effect or fetal alcohol syndrome.