Pervasive Developmental Disorders Every year the National
Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NICHCY)
receives thousands of requests for information about the
diagnosis, educational programming, and special needs of
children and youth with Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD).
Over the past few years, PDD has become a subject of increased
attention among parents, professionals, and policymakers across
the country. NICHCY developed this Briefing Paper in response to
the growing concern about, and interest in, this disability.
This publication is designed to answer some of the most commonly
asked questions regarding PDD and to provide concerned
individuals with other resources for information and support.
The term Pervasive Developmental Disorders was first used in the
1980s to describe a class of disorders. This class of disorders
has in common the following characteristics: impairments in
social interaction, imaginative activity, verbal and nonverbal
communication skills, and a limited num