Developmental Delay is a special education category used for children ages 3 through 9 who are learning and developing more slowly than expected for their age. A child may have delays in areas such as learning, movement, communication, social skills, or daily living skills. This category allows schools to provide support early, even when it is too soon to clearly identify a specific disability. Services are based on the child’s individual needs and typically focus on helping the child grow and make progress during these important early years.