What is a developmental disability? The government defines a developmental disability as a lifelong disability of someone older than 5 years that:

1. results from a mental or phsyical problem or a mixture of mental and physical problems
2. shows itself before the person reaches the age 22
3. Will probably go on continuously. The person will not recover or grow out of it.
4. Puts large limits on 3 or more of the following areas of major life activity:
   

• caring for oneself
• speaking or understanding language
• education
• walking or other movement
• self direction
• ability to live by oneself
• ability to sustain oneself financially
  

5. Has a need for a combination of types of services, such as speech therapy, special education and counseling. These services will be needed over a long period of time and must be planned for the individual. When you apply this definition to babies and young children this means, those from birth to age 5,they have many developmental delays or certain conditions with a large probability of disabilities if services are not given

If you would like to read the definition written in the law, click here.

If this is all new to you, if you have recently had a family member diagnosed with a developmental disability, if you are beginning a new job working with individuals with developmental disabilities for the first time, please check this page created by COPT to introduce families and staff to resources, issues surrounding diagnosis and other useful information.

Who can help?

Overview of North Dakota state services for people with developmental disabilities

Tribal Services

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