Developmental disability is a term that refers to a permanent cognitive and/or physical impairment that usually occurs in the early years of life but can occur anytime before the age of 18 years.

It usually results in significantly reduced capacity in three or more major life activities, such as communication, learning, mobility, living independently, decision making or self care, and the need for support, whether or not of an ongoing nature.

The term is used to refer to a range of conditions including intellectual disability, cerebral palsy, autistic spectrum disorder, spina bifida, cystic fibrosis, learning disability, muscular dystrophy and epilepsy. It is recognised that many people with a developmental disability may experience a number of impairments.

CDS, previously CDDS, has historically focused on issues affecting adults with intellectual disability, cerebral palsy and other developmental disabilities. Work was also done regarding services for adults with autism spectrum disorder.  However, our work is not restricted to these areas and focuses on the nature of the physical and social supports that best assist people to be included in the community across their lifespan.

The Centre was recently renamed from the Centre for Developmental Disability Studies to the Centre for Disability Studies,  given the broader and growing scope of our more recent work.