"Although the terms intellectual disability and developmental disability have certain similarities, they have several distinct differences. Since 1997, we at ALSO have been paving the way for the highest standard in serving people with developmental and intellectual disabilities. We have kept up-to-date and also continuously set new standards as to what high-quality disability support services should look like. What we believe for certain is something that you as friends, family, and loved ones likely already know: that the right kind of support, encouragement, and assistance can inevitably lead to full inclusion into the fabric of any community.We admit that the journey to full community inclusion may not be easy, but it"s always well worth it. Part of the solution is informing those people that we serve as well as all members of our society about the wide variety of supports available for safe and successful functioning in the home, workplace, and community. Even more important, is to gain insight into the remarkable contributions that people with any kind of disability can make to the community in which they live, work, and play.Developmental disability is a broad term that includes intellectual as well as other types of disabilities. The state of Oregon considers someone to have a developmental disability if the onset of the condition occurs prior to the age of 22. In most cases, health professionals have determined that the condition will continue indefinitely. As the name suggests, developmental disabilities interfere in the normal stages of human development, including early childhood, middle childhood (6-12 years), and adolescence.Sometimes, developmental disabilities happen well after birth. Malnourishment, or exposure to environmental toxins (such as lead), can interfere with the normal progression of developmental stages. Whooping cough, meningitis (swelling of the brain and/or spinal cord), or measles can also cause developmental disabilities. Individuals who acquire a traumatic brain injury (TBI) prior to the age of 18 or 22 are considered to have a developmental disability because TBI can interfere in the ability for the young person to progress through normal human developmental stages."
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