Developmentally Delayed

The learning capacity or a young child (3-9 years old) is significantly limited, impaired. or delayed and is exhibited by difficulties in one or more of the following areas: receptive and/or expressive language; cognitive abilities; physical functioning; social, emotional, or adaptive functioning, and/or self-help skills.

Keywords from the state and federal definitions: 3-9 years old learning capacity significantly limited, impaired, or delayed difficulties in one or more areas

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS RELATED TO DISABILITY IN DETERMINING ELIGIBILITY

• Appropriate consideration only for students 3 to 9 years of age

• Team must consider developmental normative data and curricular expectations of the educational environment

• Test scores cannot be single determinant of disability finding particularly in making a finding of a significant delay. A balanced approach to assessment results is required

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• For 3-5 year old students, Team must consider student participation in developmentally appropriate activities

• Appropriate standards to determine that the developmental delay exhibited by the student is "significant" - recommended minimum is 6 months delay. However, Team must determine if the effect on the student is "significant" in light of the educational context and expectations

• Team should determine that delay is not a function of lack of instruction or opportunity to learn, nor a function of cultural differences or temporary events in the child's life

• Category should not be used as a "temporary catch-all," and Team should consider if constellation of assessment findings fits with another disability type

POSSIBLE ASSESSMENTS & ASSESSMENT FACTORS

• Appropriate consideration only if student is nine (9) years of age or younger

• Assessment of developmental performance in language; cognition; physical development:

social, emotional, or adaptive development

• Psychometric assessments

• Classroom observations

• Developmental history

• Norm reference data or professional consensus finding of delay of 6 months or more in one or more areas for younger children and 9 months or more for older children