North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities - NCCDD

The term "developmental disability" means a severe, chronic disability attributed to a mental/cognitive or physical impairment or combination of mental and physical impairments diagnosed or that become obvious before the age of 22. The condition is likely to continue indefinitely and limits the individual in 3 or more of the following areas:

1. Self-care
2. Receptive and expressive language
3. Learning
4. Mobility
5. Self-direction
6. Capacity for independent living
7. Economic self-sufficiency

The conditions create the individual's need for a combination of special, interdisciplinary services, individualized supports and other forms of long-term assistance that are individually planned and coordinated.Infants and young children who have a substantial developmental delay or specific condition may be considered to have a developmental disability without meeting 3 or more of the criteria if there is a high probability of meeting those criteria later in life.

North Carolina’s definition of developmental disabilities includes Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), which may be acquired after 22 years of age.