Disability Links

• Disability Links

Developmental disabilities are a diverse group of severe chronic conditions that are due to mental and/or physical impairments. People with developmental disabilities have problems with major life activities such as language, mobility, learning, self-help, and independent living. Developmental disabilities begin anytime during development up to 22 years of age and usually last throughout a person’s lifetime (US Center for Disease Control, 2000).

The United States government first passed legislation now known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in 1975. Major changes to the bill were passed in 2004. Federal information can be found by visiting: http://www.ed.gov/policy/speced/guid/idea/idea2004.html

Each state administers their own interpretation of the law for persons with disabilities. In Illinois, the following categories can be used in defining a person’s disability, when preparing their Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or Service Plan (for private school children):

• Autism
• Deaf-Blindness
• Deafness
• Emotional Disturbance
• Hearing Impairment
• Mental Retardation
• Multiple Disabilities
• Orthopedic Impairment
• Other Health Impairment
• Specific Learning Disability
• Speech/Language Impairment
• Traumatic Brain Injury
• Visual Impairment

For more information on Illinois State Board of Education, visit www.isbe.state.il.us/spec-ed/default.htm

For more information on disability topics, visit one of the links below:

• Autism: http://www.autism-society.org
• Cerebral Palsy: http://www.ucp.org
• Down Syndrome: http://www.nads.org , http://www.ndss.org
• Learning Disabilities: http://www.ldonline.org
• Parent Support: http://www.taalliance.org
• Resources for Adults: http://www.nichcy.org/pubs/transum/adttxt.htm
• Speech/Language: http://www.childspeech.net/understanding.html
• Transition Services: http://www.naset.org/transervices.0.html