March is Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (MR/DD) Awareness Month.
According to a white paper entitled Valuing People in 2001, among western countries,
somewhere between one and two percent of the population is affected with a
developmental disability.
Developmental disabilities can begin anytime during a person’s development up to age
22 and usually last throughout a person’s lifetime. Many social, environmental or
physical factors can determine cause.
Common factors include:






Brain injury or infection before, during or after birth
Growth or nutrition problems
Abnormalities of chromosomes and genes
Extreme prematurity
Poor diet and health care
Drug misuse during pregnancy, including excessive alcohol intake and smoking.
Problems with language, mobility, learning, self-help or independent living are the major
life issues people with development disabilities may have.
From autism spectrum disorders and cerebral palsy to hearing loss, mental retardation,
vision impairment and more, United Way of Greater St. Louis funds 21 local agencies
that list serving those with developmental disabilities.
People with disabilities can live healthy lives, productive lives. At least 48 programs
within the 21 agencies receive United Way funding associated with MR/DD. A few
examples are:








Early Childhood Intervention
Adult Employment
Independent Living
Sports Camp for Youth with Physical Disabilities
Therapy Services
Family Support Services and
Residential Services
Speech and or hearing programs
United Way of Greater St. Louis agencies that list serving MR/DD are:
Center for Hearing & Speech; Central Institute for the Deaf; Children's Home Society of
Missouri; Delta Gamma Center for Children with Visual Impairments; Developmental
Services of Jefferson County, Inc.; Easter Seals Missouri; Emmaus Homes, Inc.; Family
Support Services; Illinois Center for Autism; Jobs and Employment Support Services;
Judevine Center for Autism; MindsEYE Information Service; Paraquad, Inc.;
St. Joseph Institute for the Deaf; St. Louis Arc; St. Louis Society for the Physically
Disabled; St. Mary's Special School for Exceptional Children; Support Dogs, Inc.; Talking
Tapes/Textbooks on Tape; United Cerebral Palsy Association of Greater St. Louis and
United Services