The term developmental disability describes a group of conditions including mental retardation, cerebral palsy, autism, epilepsy, and other conditions similar to mental retardation or requiring services such as would be required by a person with mental retardation.  A developmental disability must have occurred before the age of 18, and it must be substantially handicapping and lifelong in nature.

A person may have more than one developmental disability.  More than half of  Harbor Regional Center clients have mental retardation, and many also have a second developmental disability - such as epilepsy.  People with developmental disabilities also may have conditions such as heart defects, allergies, and mental health problems.  Some regional center clients have serious medical conditions in addition to one or more developmental disabilities.  Some of these people depend on technology to support certain body functions.  Examples are clients who require a mechanical ventilator to help them breathe and people who are fed through a tube inserted in the stomach. 

An infant or toddler under the age of 3 years may receive early intervention (also known as Early Start) services when 

• a developmental delay exists and there is a significiant difference between the infant or toddler's level of functioning and the expected level of development for his or her age, in one or more of the following developmental areas: cognitive, physical (fine motor, gross motor, vision, and hearing), communication, social or emotional, or adaptive.
• the infant or todder has an established risk condition which is known to have a high probability to result in developmental delay.

A new Prevention Program will be available in California as of October, 2009 for eligible infants considered to be “at risk” for a developmental disability, under the age of three years and having two or more problems generally associated with developmental delay or disability, such as low birth weight, prematurity, severe medical problems at birth, and prenatal exposure to drugs or alcohol. 

For information on early intervention services at Harbor Regional Center, you may refer to our publication entitled Hand in Hand.

If you think you, your child, or someone you know may have a developmental disability, please review the information on applying for services.