Often, when the staff of the Office for Prevention of Developmental Disabilities (OPDD) is asked what we do, people are surprised when we say we work to prevent developmental disabilities.
The greatest proportion of developmental disabilities and other related disabilities are caused by genetic abnormalities and occur in circumstances that are beyond our control. Although many developmental disabilities may not be preventable, numerous other disabilities can be stopped through good maternal and child health practices. Simple changes to our everyday behavior can significantly impact our health and well-being as well as the health and well-being of those in our care.
