People with disabilities face many obstacles throughout their lives. There are many things that can be done to ensure that a person with a disability achieves their full potential. People with disabilities face many issues related to lifelong learning, such as: initial diagnosis, early intervention, assessments, educational progress, and transition programs. Diagnosis of Developmental Disorders Arnold Gessell developed the stages through which one progresses in normal development (Cook, Lyon, & Blacher, 2007). Developmental delay is apparent when an infant or child fails to meet developmental milestones within a reasonable time frame (Cook, Lyon, & Blacher, 2007). Children develop at varying rates, so a doctor will consider the time it takes a child to reach a milestone before determining whether a delay is apparent. An example of a child not reaching a developmental milestone would be if they were not speaking any words at age two. According to the Center for Disease Control, a child typically begins speaking single words around eighteen months of age. Early Intervention Priorities Once a child is diagnosed with a developmental delay, parents may feel at fault and not know where to turn for help. The federal government has mandated intervention services for children with disabilities under the age of five (Brown, 2007). At the age of three, a child who is late or suffering from a genetic disease will benefit from intervention in a preschool environment. This framework would help the child achieve the necessary milestones to enter kindergarten. A program like this helps a child be placed in an inclusive classroom; which would enable the child to succeed in his studies...... middle of paper ......n?qurl=http://search.credoreference.com/content/entry/wileyse/curriculum_for_students_with_severe_disabilities/0> “DEVELOPMENT DELAY.” Encyclopedia of Special Education: A reference for the education of children, adolescents and adults with disabilities and other exceptional individuals. Np: Wiley, 2007. Reference Credo. January 19, 2010. The web. May 26, 2014. Hardman, Michael L., Clifford J. Drew, and M. Winston. Egan. Human exceptionality: school, community and family. Boston: Pearson/Allyn and Bacon, 2005. Print. “Important Milestones: Your child is three years old. » Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, March 27, 2014. Web. May 26 2014. .