CDC monitoring provides reliable, population-based estimates of the number
of school-aged children with developmental disabilities. Without this
knowledge, advocacy groups, parents, providers, educators, policy
makers, and researchers would not have the necessary tools to effect
change.
Evaluate Policy: Information gathered through CDC monitoring can be used
by policy makers to assess current public health programs, regulations
and authorizations for individuals with developmental disabilities
Prioritize Resources: CDC monitoring results have been used to support
increases in funding for state and local programs supporting individuals
with autism spectrum disorders and other developmental disabilities.
Provide Basis for Additional Research: CDC monitoring has established
a case population to identify risk factors for developmental
disabilities. |
Why is it so important to monitor developmental
disabilities?
In the Metropolitan
Atlanta Developmental Disabilities Surveillance
Program (MADDSP) 2000 Surveillance Year,
approximately 2% of 8-year-old children had at
least one of the five developmental disabilities
monitored. |
Developmental disabilities affect approximately 17% of children younger
than 18 years of age in the United States and have resulted in
substantial financial and social costs for affected families and
educational and health care systems.
The estimated lifetime cost for those born in 2000 with a developmental
disability are expected to total (based on 2003 dollars):
-
$51.2 billion for people with mental
retardation,
-
$11.5 billion for people with cerebral palsy,
-
$2.1 billion
for people with hearing loss, and
-
$2.5 billion for people with vision
impairment.
These costs are likely an
underestimate of the true cost of developmental disabilities because
these numbers are based only on the prevalence estimates for the
developmental disabilities ascertained by MADDSP (one of CDC monitoring
programs).
Further, children living with developmental disabilities will
need not only financial assistance, but also special educational and
medical services throughout their lives in order to achieve their
optimal development. MADDSP also identifies a case population of
school-aged children with developmental disabilities that serves as an
essential component for epidemiologic studies (CADDRE) examining risk factors for
developmental disabilities in the metropolitan Atlanta area.
CDC's Monitoring Activities
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Date: June 27, 2006
Content source: National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental
Disabilities