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