Developmental Disability (DD)

California defines a person with a developmental disability as anyone who has acquired mental retardation, autism, epilepsy or cerebral palsy before age 18, or has a condition that is similar to mental retardation or requires services similar to those required by persons with mental retardation, and is likely to need special services throughout his or her life. The Federal definition extends the age of onset of disability to age 22 and looks at a person’s range of abilities instead of diagnostic categories