Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month 2024
What are Developmental Disabilities?
Child development refers to the physical, cognitive, emotional and social growth that occurs
throughout a child and young person’s life.
Developmental milestones track a child’s skill development over time. However, not all
children will develop all of these skills or develop them within the milestone timeframes. This
can be due to challenges the child has in relation to their physical, learning, sensory or
emotional development which might be as a result of a diagnosed or undiagnosed
Developmental Disability.
‘Developmental disabilities refer to a group of conditions. These are due to an impairment in
one of four areas: physical, learning, language or behaviour. These conditions begin during
a child’s developmental period, and typically before a person is 22 years old. They usually
last throughout a person’s lifetime and may impact daily life. Developmental disabilities are
described as a severe and chronic disability.’ Gov.uk
Developmental Disabilities include, but are not limited to, lifelong conditions such as Autism,
Cerebral Palsy, Developmental Coordination Disorder/ Dyspraxia, Down’s Syndrome or other
Syndromes, Congenital Limb Difference, Dyslexia and many more.
People with Developmental Disabilities will present very differently depending on their
underlying condition. Some people may have a learning disability while others do not. Some
may have significant physical impairments and need to a mobility aid, such as a walker or
wheelchair. Some may be unable to speak and need to use technology to help hem
communicate. Some disabilities are not obviously visible as there is no physical impairment,
but the person may have challenges with sensory processing or learning.
It is important that a child who may have a Developmental Disability is identified and
diagnosed as early as possible so they can receive the intervention and support from
education, health and social care services to help them on their own developmental journey
and achieve their own milestones. This journey will ultimately prepare them for their
transition into adulthood and their role within society.
The Importance of Parents Perspectives when working with Children with Developmental
Disabilities
The parents or legal guardians know the child best. For those working with or supporting
children with Developmental Disabilities, it is so important to listen to the parents as well as
assessing and listening to the child.
It is important to understand the challenges the child/ young person and their parents or
legal guardians face each and every day over a 24 hour period.
The child may have significant difficulties with sleep, resulting in the parents also having
very little quality sleep. The challenges with sleep can go on for years, sometimes into teens
or even adulthood. This can understandably have a significant effect on the parents.
The child may have significant challenges with movement and coordination and/or sensory
processing and emotional regulation. These challenges can make daily activities; such as
dressing, feeding, washing, toileting etc; difficult, time consuming and tiring for both the
child and the parents/ guardians.
There may also be other siblings in the family who also have a Developmental Disability.
Trips out as a family can be challenging due to environmental and societal barriers.
There is usually a wide variety of professionals involved with the child and family.
Consequently, they must organise, accommodate and attend many and frequent
appointments, very often within their own home.
The combined effects of the above (and many more) on top of all the usual life juggling
between daily work and chores, managing and sustaining relationships and trying to find
time and space for one’s own mental and physical well-being cannot be underestimated.
Respecting, listening, understanding and empathising are vital in forming a supportive and
effective therapeutic relationship with parents and legal guardians in order to ensure
optimum outcomes for the child or young person.
Facilitating Inclusion and Participation
Paediatric Occupational Therapists (OTs) work with babies, children and young people who
have a wide range of Developmental Disabilities. Occupational Therapists also work with
adults who have Developmental Disabilities.
Occupational Therapists analyse how the person’s disability, the understanding of others
and the environments they need to access, all impact on the person’s ability to participate in
activities. With this understanding, Occupational Therapists can then provide the support
required to enable the person to participate in a wider range of activities by adapting the
activity and/ or the environment and increasing the understanding of significant people in
the person’s life (eg family members, school staff, employers, activity providers etc).
Facilitating inclusion and participation are at the heart of the work Occupational Therapists
do.
Awareness Raising
People who have a Developmental Disability may have different ways to approach or
complete tasks. However, difference does not mean they don’t have skills and abilities
which they can share to the benefit those around them at home, school, work or in the
wider society.
Raising awareness of Developmental Disabilities will help to shine a light on the crucial role
the wider society has in enabling people with Developmental Disabilities to access and
participate in activities they want and need to do.
Improving building design and construction; improving inclusion in family, education, work
and leisure activities; increasing participation in events; or communicating with and assisting
people when needed out and about in the community, will all help to break down the many
barriers people with disabilities face. This will benefit all of society.
“We’re Better Together!”
