July is recognized as Disability Pride Month. The month is connected to the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which was signed into law on July 26, 1990. The ADA is a civil rights law that protects people with disabilities from discrimination and supports equal access in areas such as schools, public spaces, transportation, employment, and community life. The first official Disability Pride Month was held in July 2015 for the 25th anniversary of the ADA.
Disability is a broad term. The CDC defines disability as any condition of the body or mind that makes it more difficult for a person to do certain activities or interact with the world around them. Disabilities may affect movement, vision, hearing, learning, communication, memory, thinking, mental health, or social relationships. Some disabilities are visible, while others are not obvious to others.
In pediatrics, disability may include physical, developmental, intellectual, behavioral, emotional, sensory, or chronic medical conditions. Children with special health care needs may have conditions such as asthma, epilepsy, sickle cell disease, anxiety, autism, learning disorders, developmental delays, genetic conditions, mobility limitations, hearing loss, vision impairment, or other medical needs that require additional care or services. HRSA defines children and youth with special health care needs as children who have or are at increased risk for chronic physical, developmental, behavioral, or emotional conditions and who require health and related services beyond those generally required by children.
Developmental disabilities are one important category of childhood disability. The CDC describes developmental disabilities as conditions caused by impairment in physical, learning, language, or behavioral areas. These conditions begin during the developmental period, may affect day-to-day functioning, and usually last throughout a person’s lifetime. Some developmental disabilities begin before birth, while others may occur after birth because of injury, infection, or other factors.
Developmental disabilities are common. The CDC’s “Learn the Signs. Act Early.” program reports that about 1 in 6 children ages 3 to 17 have a developmental disability. The same CDC program reports that developmental disabilities are often not identified before school age, which is why developmental monitoring and screening are important during early childhood.
Developmental monitoring means observing how a child grows and changes over time. This includes watching how a child plays, learns, speaks, acts, and moves. Parents, grandparents, early childhood providers, teachers, and caregivers may all notice developmental changes or concerns. The CDC recommends that families speak with a child’s doctor if they notice that a child is not meeting developmental milestones.
Developmental screening is different from general monitoring. Screening uses a more formal tool to check whether a child may need further evaluation. Pediatricians use developmental surveillance, screening, family history, physical exams, and parent concerns to determine whether a child may benefit from additional testing, therapy, early intervention, or referral to a specialist. Early identification can help children and families access services sooner.
Early intervention services are available for eligible infants and toddlers with delays or disabilities. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, known as IDEA, governs how states and public agencies provide early intervention, special education, and related services to eligible children and youth with disabilities. IDEA Part C supports infants and toddlers from birth through age 2 with disabilities and their families. IDEA Part B supports children and youth ages 3 through 21 who qualify for special education and related services.
Children with disabilities often need coordinated care. A pediatric medical home is a model of care that helps connect primary care, specialty care, educational services, family support, and community resources. The American Academy of Pediatrics describes a medical home as comprehensive primary care built on partnerships among patients, families, clinicians, and medical staff. For children and youth with special health care needs, coordinated and family-centered care is especially important because care may involve multiple specialists, therapies, schools, medications, equipment, or support systems.
Family-centered care is an important part of pediatric care for children with disabilities. The American Academy of Pediatrics states that family-centered care recognizes and respects that families are the primary caregivers, experts, and supports for their child. Families provide important information about a child’s daily function, behavior, communication, sleep, feeding, medication response, school needs, and quality of life.
Disability can also affect routine pediatric care. Children with disabilities still need well-child visits, vaccines, growth monitoring, nutrition guidance, sleep support, behavioral health screening, dental care, vision and hearing evaluation, and age-appropriate preventive care. A child’s disability or diagnosis may change the timing, structure, or coordination of care, but it does not replace routine pediatric health needs.
Some disabilities are associated with chronic medical conditions that require ongoing monitoring. Children with conditions such as asthma, epilepsy, diabetes, congenital heart disease, cerebral palsy, sickle cell disease, genetic syndromes, or immune disorders may need regular medication review, symptom tracking, lab monitoring, specialist follow-up, school health plans, and emergency plans. Primary care can help families keep these pieces organized and make sure preventive care is not overlooked.
Invisible disabilities can be especially difficult for families because a child’s needs may not be obvious in public settings or school environments. Learning disorders, ADHD, autism, anxiety, hearing differences, chronic pain, fatigue, sensory processing differences, and some medical conditions may affect a child’s daily life even when the child does not appear physically disabled. Pediatricians can help document concerns, evaluate symptoms, and guide families toward appropriate school, therapy, behavioral health, or specialty resources.
Disability Pride Month is also a reminder that children benefit from accurate language and respectful communication. Children with disabilities are children first. Their diagnoses may be important for medical care, school support, therapy, or safety planning, but a diagnosis does not define a child’s entire identity. Pediatric care should consider the whole child, including health, development, communication, family life, school participation, friendships, independence, and emotional well-being.
For families, concerns about development or disability should be discussed early. Parents should contact their child’s pediatrician if they notice delays in speech, movement, learning, behavior, social interaction, hearing, vision, feeding, sleep, coordination, or daily functioning. Families should also seek guidance if a child loses skills they previously had, has new weakness, frequent falls, ongoing pain, repeated school difficulties, behavior changes, or symptoms that interfere with daily life.
At Sandy Springs Pediatrics, our team supports children through every stage of growth and development, including children with chronic conditions, developmental concerns, behavioral health needs, and special health care needs. Pediatric care plays an important role in early identification, preventive care, care coordination, family education, and helping children access the support they need at home, in school, and in the community.