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Developmental disability is a term used in the United States and Canada to describe life-long, disabilities attributable to mental and/or physical impairments, manifested prior to age 18. It may also be referred to as a "developmental delay". [1] Note that the term "delay" does not indicate individuals affected by developmental delays will attain typical skills levels. "Developmental delay" is often used in place of the less politically correct term "mental retardation". The term is used most commonly in the U.S. and Canada to refer to disabilities affecting daily functioning in three or more of the following areas capacity for independent living, economic self-sufficiency, learning, mobility, receptive and expressive language, self-care, and self-direction. The term first appeared in U.S. law in 1970, when Congress used the term to describe the population of individuals who had historically been placed in state institutions, in its effort to improve conditions in these dehumanizing facilities (P.L. 91-517, "The Developmental Disabilities Services and Facilities Construction Act of 1970"). The law has since been amended many times, and now calls for the full community inclusion and self-determination of people with developmental disabilities (P.L. 106-402). It is currently defined in United States Code title 42, Chapter 144.[2]
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