Developmental Disabilities

According to the Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Act (AB 846), "developmental disability" means a disability attributable to mental retardation, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism, or other handicapping conditions found to be closely related to mental retardation or to require treatment similar to that required for mentally retarded individuals but shall not include other handicapping conditions that are soley physical in nature. Such a disability originates before an individual attains age 18, continues or can be expected to continue indefinitely, and constitutes a substantial handicap for such individuals. Substantial Handicap means a condition which results in major impairment of cognitive and/or social functioning. Moreover, a substantial handicap represents a condition of sufficient impairment to require interdisciplinary planning and coordination of special or generic services to assist the individual in achieving maximum potential. Since an individual's cognitive and/or social functioning are many-faceted, the existence of a major impairment shall be determined through an assessment which shall address aspects of functioning including, but not limited to: communication, learning, self-care, mobility, self-direction, capacity for independent living, and economic self-sufficiency.