Significant combined loss/impairment of both senses (hearing and visual).  People who are deaf-blind may have unique problems with communication, mobility and other daily living skills that make achieving independence more difficult.

Complete or partial loss of the sense of hearing.  The loss may be present at birth or acquired, temporary or permanent.  It may be caused by disease or injury to the auditory nerve.

The movement of people with disabilities from institutions and larger group homes into the community.

A facility that offers services designed to assist preschool and school-aged children with disabilities develop basic skills such as self-help skills, fine- and gross-motor coordination, language, communication and cognitive and social skills.

(A) means a severe, chronic disability of an individual that— (i) is attributable to a mental or physical impairment or combination of mental and physical impairments; (ii) is manifested before the individual attains age 22; (iii) is likely to continue indefinitely; (iv) results in substantial functional limitations in 3 or more of the following areas of major life activity: (I) Self-care. (II) Receptive and expressive language. (III) Learning. (IV) Mobility. (V) Self-direction. (VI) Capacity for independent living. (VII) Economic self-sufficiency; and (v) reflects the individual’s need for a combination and sequence of special, interdisciplinary, or generic services, individualized supports, or other forms of assistance that are of lifelong or extended duration.

North Carolina General Statute 122C-3(12a) defines a developmental disability as a severe, chronic disability of a person which is attributable to mental or physical impairment or combination of mental and physical impairments; is manifested before the person attains age 22, unless the disability is caused by traumatic head injury and is manifested after age 22; is likely to continue indefinitely; results in substantial functional limitations in three or more of the following areas of major life activity: (a) self-care, (b) reception (understanding) and expressive language, (c) learning, (d) mobility (ability to move), (e) self-direction (motivation), (f) the capacity for independent living, (g) economic self-sufficiency; reflects the person’s need for a combination or sequence of special interdisciplinary services which are of a lifelong or extended duration and are individually planned and coordinated; or when applied to children from birth through four years of age, may be evidenced as developmental delay.

Personal care assistants, home care aides, or staff in community residential supports programs that assist people with disabilities with medications, preparing and eating meals, dressing, mobility, and handling daily affairs.

A genetic condition caused by a chromosomal abnormality.  Atypical cell development results in 47 chromosomes instead of the usual 46 chromosomes.  As a result, there is some degree of cognitive disability and other developmental delays.  Common physical features of Down syndrome include small stature, decreased muscle tone, flattened bridge of the nose and upward slant to the eyes.

Co-occurrence of mental health disorders and a developmental disability or other disability such as substance abuse.