“Intellectual or Developmental Disability” is a term used to describe a long-term disability that begins any time from conception through age twenty-one (21) and is attributable to mental or physical impairments or a combination of physical and mental impairments. Common intellectual or developmental disabilities include general intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, epilepsy, and autism spectrum disorders.
Although you may not always be able to recognize a person with a developmental disability, you will find that the person will have a less than average ability to function in at least three of the following major life activities: self-care, self-direction, communication, mobility, learning, capacity for independent living and economic self-sufficiency. The range of services and supports needed by persons with developmental disabilities varies widely from one person to another. Without appropriate services and supports, the choices open to people with developmental disabilities – including where they live, work, and play – are minimal.
The Arkansas Developmental Disabilities Provider Association (DDPA) represents sixty-eight (68) non-profit community programs that provide an array of medical care and related services and supports to children and adults with developmental disabilities across the state.
Without nonprofit community programs, many people with developmental disabilities would receive no services or supports at all.
The Arkansas Developmental Disabilities Provider Association (DDPA) represents sixty-eight (68) non-profit community programs that provide an array of medical care and related services and supports to children and adults with developmental disabilities across the state. Many of DDPA’s provider members were founded by family members of children and adults with significant disabilities and include family members and individuals with developmental disabilities on their boards of directors. Because of their origins and the visibility of their centers, many DDPA members serve to crystallize support for services to children and adults with developmental disabilities among the local population and are a vibrant part of their local community.
The Developmental Disabilities (DD) service system includes center based services called Early Intervention Developmental Treatment (EIDT), Adult Developmental Day Treatment (ADDT), therapy services, transportation, and home and community-based services and supports under the DHS/DDS Community & Employment Supports (CES) Waiver program. There are over 2,900 individuals with developmental disabilities on a waiting list for services under the CES Waiver.
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