An Unfinished Journey:

Defining Disabilities: What is a Developmental Disability?

A word about words

For centuries, words have been used as labels to describe people with developmental disabilities. These words include idiot, imbecile, moron, feebleminded, subnormal, mentally defective, mentally deficient, mentally incompetent, mentally handicapped, trainable, educable, slow learner, and mentally "R."

These words may be jarring and will bring up old—and harmful—stereotypes of inferior, incapable, and devalued human beings. Although you may see these words in this exhibit because of historical context, we have minimized the use of any offensive terminology.

A definition

The Americans with Disabilities Act defines a disability as a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. About 16–20% of Minnesotans meet that definition. Within that broad definition, individuals with developmental disabilities are those who have three or more functional limitations that occur before age 22 and require lifelong support and services.

1.58% of Minnesotans have developmental disabilities.

"If you got to label something, label words, label jars, label streets, but don't label persons."
— Valerie Schaaf, Oregon People First, 1974

Photo: Four individuals starting from the left a male wearing glasses and suit and tie using a scooter. Next a male with short brown hair who is standing and wearing a gray sweater and glasses. Next is a woman with short brown hair standing wearing a pink top and glasses. Next is a male wearing a suit and tie, glasses with short hair and beard. Courtesy of Sherie Wallace, photographer.