Examples of developmental disabilities include:

Mental Retardation – refers to noticeable limitations in functioning related to below average intelligence.  It can be caused by injury, disease, genetic factors or environmental factors.  People with mental retardation learn more slowly than other people and may need assistance self-care, work and functional academics.

Autism – is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life.  Autism impacts the normal development of the brain in the areas of social interaction and communication skills.  Children and adults with autism typically have difficulties in verbal and non-verbal communication, social interactions, and leisure or play activities.

Cerebral Palsy (CP) – Cerebral means the brain.  Palsy means moving of the muscles in a way that the person cannot control.  It refers to a group of motor (muscle) disabilities that arise because of injury to the developing brain before or during birth or during the first year of life.  These motor disabilities do not get worse over time.  Cerebral palsy keeps the brain from telling the rest of the body some of the things it is supposed to do.  It might be hard for a person with cerebral palsy to talk, see, hear, sit or swallow.  A person with cerebral palsy might have a combination of these things.  Despite significant motor impairment, many people with cerebral palsy have normal intelligence.

Epilepsy – is a condition of the nervous system that heightens the risk of having seizures.  A seizure is a change in sensation, awareness, or behavior brought about by a brief electrical disturbance in the brain.  Seizures vary from momentary disruption of the senses, to short periods of unconsciousness or staring spells, to convulsions.  Some people have one type of seizure; others have more than one type.