The data shows that developmental, learning, and behavioral disorders are among the most prevalent chronic conditions of childhood and adolescence. The law defines disability as the inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reasons of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment(s) which can be expected to result in death or which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months.
A child under age 18 will be considered disabled if he or she has a medically determinable physical or mental impairment or combination of impairments that causes marked and severe functional limitations, and that can be expected to cause death or that has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months.
Generally, individuals are classified as having a disability if any of the following three conditions is true:
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5 years old and over and reported a long-lasting sensory, physical, mental or self-care disability;
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16 years old and over and reported difficulty going outside the home because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition lasting six months or more; or,
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16 to 64 years old and reported difficulty working at a job or business because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition lasting six months or more.
(Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2000 Census of Population and Housing, Demographic Profile. Updated every 10 years. http://factfinder.census.gov)
