Federal Definition of Developmental Disabilities
At this time, a person with a PWS diagnosis is not automatically approved for
SSI. Instead, a person with PWS usually is approved based on the federal
definition for a developmental disability found in the Developmental
Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act (42 U.S.C. §6000 et seq. and )
which states:
The term “developmental disability means a severe, chronic disability of an
individual 5 years of age or older that –
(A) is attributable to mental or physical impairment or a combination of
mental and physical impairments;
(B) is manifested before the individual attains age 22;
(C) is likely to continue indefinitely;
(D) results in substantial functional limitations in three or more of the
following areas of major life activity
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(i) |
self care; |
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(ii) |
receptive and expressed language; |
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(iii) |
learning; |
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(iv) |
mobility; |
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(v) |
self-direction; |
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(vi) |
capacity for independent living; and |
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(vii) |
economic self-sufficiency; and |
(E) reflects the individual’s need for a combination and sequence of special,
interdisciplinary,
or generic services, supports, or other assistance that is of
lifelong or extended duration
and is individually planned and coordinated,
except that such term, when applied to infants
and young children means
individuals from birth to age 5, inclusive, who have substantial
developmental
delay or specific congenital or acquired conditions with a high probability
of
resulting in developmental disabilities if services are not provided.
edited:
08/26/2008
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