An umbrella term encompassing a group of non-progressive, non-contagious disorders that affect the parts of the brain that control the motor (movement) system.

Injury to the brain may occur prenatally, (e.g. infection in mother or extreme prematurity) during birth (lack of oxygen to the brain during the birth process) or shortly following birth (e.g. brain infection, meningitis) the injury must have occurred before the age of 2.

2 in every 1000 births. (In the US)

Changes in muscle tone, increased or decreased or both; spasticity ("stiffness of joints") and they may have unusual movements that they are unable to control voluntarily. CP may affect 1 limb, one side of the body or all 4 limbs.

Conditions that may accompany or occur at the same time as CP include, visual impairment, challenges with communication (speech maybe difficult to understand), feeding disorders – leading to problems with growth and nutrition, seizures (epilepsy), learning disabilities or intellectual disabilities.

Some persons with CP may have average or above average IQ and be able to do well at school and get a "good job" but may need certain accommodations for their physical challenges.

Clinical Earliest signs – delay in motor skills development. Often several medical evaluations are carried out in order to determine cause and to assess severity.

May not need all types of therapy through out life:

• Speech Therapy
• Occupational Therapy (OT)
• Physical Therapy or Physiotherapy (PT)
• Special Education – Some are able to attend a regular or mainstream school and some cases even finish tertiary education.
• Specialised Medical Care /Treatments e.g. for seizures, spasticity.

A brain based developmental disability characterized by impaired social interactions and impaired verbal communication and by restricted and repetitive behaviour patterns. Symptoms usually begin before age 3.

Unknown, it is suspected that there might be a combination of genetic vulnerability as well as environmental factors

Dec 2009-CDC-reports 1 in 110 births – varied due to many factors including differences in classification etc.

• Lack of or delay in verbal and non verbal communication.
• Repetitive use of language and / or motor mannerism (hand flapping, twirling objects, spinning).
• Little or no eye contact.
• Lack of interest in peer relationships.
• Lack of spontaneous play of make-believe play.
• Persistent fixation on certain parts of objects.

Autism Spectrum Disorder is one of a group of developmental disorders (Pervasive Developmental Disorders) which include: Classic Autism (Autism Spectrum Disorder) PDD-NOS: Pervasive Developmental Disorder – Not Otherwise Specified Asperger's: "Atypical" Autism, kids with this condition frequently have good language skills, are socially awkward, do not understand social rules, and are of average to above average intellectually. Rett's: (rare) degenerative, very severe affects primarily females.

Appropriately trained professionals via specific clinical criteria.

May not need all types of therapy through out life:

• Speech Therapy
• Occupational Therapy (OT)
• Physical Therapy or Physiotherapy (PT)
• Special Education – Some are able to attend a regular or mainstream school and some cases even finish tertiary education.
• Behaviour Management
• Specialised Medical Care /Treatments e.g. for seizures, mental health issues

It's a "hidden" disability which usually is specific to learning challenages in school or other academic settings.

Not well understood and sometimes there is no apparent cause for a learning disability.

CDC cites 16% in boys and 8% in girls having Learning Disorders (LD) or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Report 2003(ADHD)

• Reading/Dyslexia – challenges with accurate or fluent word recognition, word decoding, reading rate, reading comprehension
• Writing/Dysgraphia – Impairments in handwriting, spelling, organization of ideas and composition
• Math/Dyscalculia – Difficulty with learning math concepts, memorizing math facts, difficulty organizing numbers and understanding how problems are organized on a page.

Appropriately trained professionals via specific clinical criteria.

May not need all types of therapy through out life:

• Speech Therapy
• Occupational Therapy (OT)
• Special Education – Some are able to attend a regular or mainstream school and some cases even finish tertiary education.

It's a neurological disorder causing difficulty with sensory processing information from one or several of the five senses or the vestibular (balance) and v/or proprioceptive (the ability to sense the orientation of ones arms or legs in the air) sense.

Exact cause of SPD has not yet been identified.

1 in 6 children may experience sensory symptoms that maybe significant in affecting aspects of daily life.

Problems with eating or sleeping Cannot calm self Over sensitive to touch, smell, taste, noises, other people Difficulty making friends Clumsy, poor motor skills, weak Easily distracted, fidgety, craves movement Poor self-esteem, afraid of failing at new tasks Always on the go, impulsive, easily distractible

Appropriately trained professionals via specific clinical criteria.

May not need all types of therapy through out life: Speech Therapy Occupational Therapy (OT) Physical Therapy or Physiotherapy (PT) Special Education – Some are able to attend a regular or mainstream school and some cases even finish tertiary education. Behaviour Management Specialised Medical Care /Treatments e.g. for seizures, mental health issues