Developmental disabilities Variety of conditions that become apparent during childhood and cause mental or physical limitation. These conditions include autism, cerebral palsyi, epilepsyi, mental retardationi, and other neurological impairmentsi. People with developmental disabilitiesi may not learn as quickly as others or express themselves clearly. Others may have limited ability to take care of their physical needs or limited mobility. Many have more than one disability.
Developmental disabilities have a variety of causes, which can occur before, during or after birth. Those occurring before birth include genetic problems, poor prenatal care or exposure of the fetus to toxic elements, drugs or alcohol. Occurrences during birth, such as a cut off of oxygen to the baby, or accidents after birth, like car accidents causing traumatic brain injury, also can cause developmental disabilities.
Autism Autism is an extensive developmental disorder that limits learning and slows intellectual development. People with autism have great difficulty relating and responding to persons, events or objects. People who have mild autism have very limited interests. They may demonstrate some repetitive actions and a marked lack of sensitivity to other people. People who have more severe autism have difficulty listening to and communicating with others. Their interactions with people can be confusing, or uncertain at best. More than 7000 people in New York have this disability.
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Cerebral palsy Group of conditions that result in limited or abnormal functioning in the parts of the brain that control movement. Cerebral palsyi usually is caused by brain injury before or during birth. However, brain damage or injury at any time in life can have the same effect. People with cerebral palsy primarily have difficulty with muscular coordination. They also may have seizures or be unable to see, speak, hear, or learn as other persons do. About 24,000 New York residents have cerebral palsy.
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Epilepsy Epilepsyi applies to numerous nervous system disorders that result in abnormal electrical discharges of brain cells. This produces seizures that may cause convulsive movements, or partial or total loss of consciousness. Only a small percentage of people with epilepsy also have mental retardation. Scientific advances have made it possible to control many forms of epilepsy. As a result, most people with the condition lead normal lives. When medication is not effective, specialized medical services, vocational programs and in-home and out-of-home residential services are available. Nearly 60,000 New Yorkers are believed to have epilepsy.
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Mental Retardation People with mental retardationi show delays in learning, a slower pace of learning, and difficulty in applying learning. Approximately 200,000 people in New York are thought to have mental retardation. Mental retardation can result from a variety of factors, among them premature birth, genetic abnormalities, malnutrition, exposure to toxic agents, and social deprivation. Assistance for people with mental retardation usually includes diagnosis and help early in their life, family counseling and training, education, job training, and housing services.
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Neurological impairments Neurological impairmentsi are a group of disabilities including disorders of the brain and central nervous system that considerably limit a person's development, understanding, memory, attention span, fine muscle control, use of language, or ability to adjust to new situations. Generally, these impairments begin during childhood or adolescence. People with neurological impairments may experience a variety of learning difficulties or social behavior problems. They also may have special care needs because of problems in muscular control. Neurological impairments can be difficult to diagnose and to treat. Approximately 34,000 people in New York State are thought to have some type of severe neurological impairment.
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