Developmental Delays

 What is a Developmental Delay?

Developmental Delay means a delay in one or more of the following areas of childhood development as measured by appropriate diagnostic instruments and standard procedures.

​Areas of assessment include:

  • Cognitive development

  • Physical development, including vision and hearing

  • Communication development

  • Social and/or emotional development

  • Adaptive development, including eating skills, dressing and toileting skills and other areas of personal responsibility


A diagnosed physical or mental condition that has a high probability of resulting in a developmental delay:

  • Chromosomal abnormalities or genetic disorder

  • Neurological disorder

  • Congenital disorder

  • Sensory Impairment, including vision and hearing

  • Severe toxic exposure, including prenatal exposure

  • Neurological abnormality in the newborn period

  • Low birth weight of less than or equal to one thousand five hundred (1500) grams


First Steps Eligibility Criteria:

Families who are eligible to participate in the Indiana First Steps System have children under the age of three (3) who:

  • Are experiencing developmental delays (25% or -2 standard deviations from the mean in one or more developmental domains) or

  • Are experiencing developmental delays (20% or -1.5 standard deviations from the mean in two or more developmental domains) or

  • Have a diagnosed physical or mental condition that has a high probability of resulting in a developmental delay. [A child with a diagnosis may be eligible and not currently in need of services; in that case, the family will receive information on their rights, the child’s current developmental level, community supports/services, and how to contact the system should they have further concerns or the child’s status changes.]


Eligibility is determined by a multidisciplinary team using multiple sources of information and must be re-determined annually during a face-to-face meeting with the child and the family.