developmental disability

noun

plural developmental disabilities
: any of various conditions (such as autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, intellectual disability, blindness, or fragile X syndrome) that usually become apparent during infancy or childhood and are marked by delayed development or functional limitations especially in learning, language, communication, cognition, behavior, socialization, or mobility
Two to three babies in 1,000 have cerebral palsy (CP), making it one of the most common developmental disabilities.Melanie Howard
Autism is a complex developmental disability that affects how a person communicates and relates to other people.Braema Mathi
developmentally disabled adjective
developmentally disabled students

Examples of developmental disability in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Noah Homes is a nonprofit that provides housing and care to people with developmental disabilities. Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Nov. 2023 Texas and Alabama have Endangered Missing Persons Alert programs that are designed to help adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Theresa Vargas, Washington Post, 1 Nov. 2023 New Star, a not-for-profit serving adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, serves more than 500 children and adults throughout the Chicago area and northwest Indiana, Strick said. Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 17 Sep. 2023 Some of the young men also have developmental disabilities like nonverbal autism and dwarfism. Joanne Fowler, Peoplemag, 29 Oct. 2023 The panel discussion, hosted at a senior center in Ellicott City, covered such topics as how to include people with developmental disabilities in services and the importance of asking whether accommodations are needed. Angela Roberts, Baltimore Sun, 11 Sep. 2023 That’s the name of the group started a year and a half ago that partners adults with developmental disabilities and professional musicians to learn and play together. cleveland, 21 Aug. 2023 Residents have intellectual and developmental disabilities, often combined with mental health issues that require close supervision and sometimes attention from more than one caregiver during a crisis. Ben Botkin, oregonlive, 25 July 2023 Since 1956, the Arc has provided services for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including art classes, field trips and job training, from a small complex of buildings in the industrial part of Downey. Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'developmental disability.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1944, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of developmental disability was in 1944

Dictionary Entries Near developmental disability

Cite this Entry

“Developmental disability.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/developmental%20disability. Accessed 1 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

developmental disability

noun
: any of various conditions (as autism, cerebral palsy, or intellectual disability) that are marked by delayed or impaired development (as in learning, language, or mobility)
developmentally disabled adjective

Medical Definition

developmental disability

noun
: any of various conditions (as autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, intellectual disability, blindness, or fragile X syndrome) that usually become apparent during infancy or childhood and are marked by delayed development or functional limitations especially in learning, language, communication, cognition, behavior, socialization, or mobility
Two to three babies in 1,000 have cerebral palsy (CP), making it one of the most common developmental disabilities.Melanie Howard
Autism is a complex developmental disability that affects how a person communicates and relates to other people.Braema Mathi
developmentally disabled adjective
developmentally disabled children
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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