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
Melanie HowardAutism is a complex developmental disability that affects how a person communicates and relates to other people.—Braema Mathi
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
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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
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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.
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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
Melanie HowardAutism is a complex developmental disability that affects how a person communicates and relates to other people.—Braema Mathi
Braema Mathi
developmentally disabled
adjective
developmentally disabled children
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