Physical disabilities are defined as conditions that substantially limit one or more basic physical activities such as walking, climbing stairs, reaching, lifting, carrying, and/or self-care.
Sensory disabilities are defined as blindness, deafness, or a severe vision or hearing impairment.
Developmental disabilities, as defined by federal law, are severe, chronic disabilities attributable to mental or physical impairments that are manifested before 22 years of age and are likely to continue indefinitely. Developmental disabilities result in substantial functional limitations in three or more of the following areas of life: self-care; mobility; learning; language; self-direction’ capacity of independent living; or economic self-sufficiency.The State of Florida uses a categorical definition, requires onset by age 18, and identifies persons with the following conditions as those eligible for services: mental retardation, cerebral palsy, autism, spina bifida and Prader-Willi syndrome.