As our readers may already know, Governor Rick Snyder has declared March to be Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. Snyder and Michigan officials have been encouraging residents to get to know and help out fellow residents that live with developmental disabilities.
In Michigan, there are roughly 178,000 adults and children living with developmental disabilities, according to the Michigan Department of Community Health. These individuals are all around our communities and need both social and often financial support. Programs like Social Security disability are a real benefit for these folks.
Developmental disabilities usually show before a person reaches the age of 22. Developmental disabilities are severe and chronic, and stem from physical or mental impairments that can dramatically impact a person’s daily activities, including self-care and mobility.
Two common types of developmental disability are autism and cerebral palsy. Taking autism as an example, one can take a look all that goes into the SSDI application process.
The required level of severity for autistic disorder is satisfied when a number of requirements are satisfied. To satisfy these requirements, it must be found by a doctor that there are deficits in reciprocal social interaction, communication and imagination, and a restricted repertoire of activities and interests.
In addition, the applicant must have limitations in communicative and cognitive functioning, social functioning, personal functioning and sustaining concentration.
Each of these things must be supported by adequate records, along with other requirements. It truly is helpful for applicants to work with an experienced attorney who knows the ins and outs of applying for SSDI.
Source: hollandsenitnel.com, “March: Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month,” March 3, 2013