Understanding Individuals with Disabilities Since the 1770s, researchers have struggled to understand what makes individuals with disabilities act and think the way they do as well as the underlying causes of various disabilities. While much about the many disabilities remains a mystery, we’ve uncovered a great deal over the last two and a half centuries. Because of advances in both medical technologies as well as the human understanding of the mind and body, disabled children have many more treatments and options available with new ones being discovered each day.
Intellectual Disabilities
Definition & Characteristics Intellectual disability, less commonly referred to as mental retardation, is defined as “significantly sub-average intellectual functioning” (Heward, 2012). In order for an individual to be diagnosed with an intellectual disability, they must meet the following
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Individuals of average intelligence score a mean of 100 on tests such as the Stanford Benet Intelligence scale and the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children. For an individual to be diagnosed with an intellectual disability, they must score at least two standard deviations below the mean, resulting in a score of 70-75. Adaptive behavior, another consideration for identification of intellectual disabilities, is defined as the “ability to change, adjust, or modify behavior based on environmental conditions” as well as the ability to “accomplish tasks and meet goals efficiently and effectively” (Heward, 2012). Individuals with intellectual disabilities show substantial limitations in this area. Evaluations are based on age, social and culture norms, determined by the American Association on Mental Retardation (AAMR) Adaptive Behavior Scale or the Vineland Social Maturity
Intellectual Functioning: This is having the cognitive abilities to learn, problem solve, abstractive thinking, adapting to new ideas or concepts and accumulating knowledge. It is also stated that in IQ test is used to define a diagnosis of an intellectual disability. Relating a low IQ test score and having an intellectual disability are not significant enough to determine as many people may have a low test score but not be diagnosed with an intellectual disability.
According to the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (2017), an intellectual disability is classified as a deficit in “intellectual functioning” and “adaptive behaviors.” For a disability to be qualified as an intellectual disability it must have originated before the age of 18. Some diagnoses that fit under intellectual disability include autism, Down Syndrome, Fragile X Syndrome, and Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. “Developmental disability” is the umbrella term, encompassing many other disabilities, including those that fall under the category of intellectual disability. Developmental disabilities typically impact an individual in a physical way, such as cerebral palsy or epilepsy.
Many people may say one is a retard without knowing the truth behind the actual word. Intellectual Disability, also known as Mental Retardation, is a very serious psychological disorder that few are faced with for life. Intellectual Disability is characterized by a below-average level of intelligence (a mental ability) that lacks skills necessary for daily living. An IQ is the standard way to measure the level of intelligence one may have. Roughly 95% of humans have the IQ between 70 and 130. (Meyers and DeWall, 2014). The other five percent are either absolute genius or intellectually disabled. Being intellectually disabled can be caused in many ways
An intellectual disability, like the one had by Roland Johnson and about one percent to three percent of people, is defined as “a disability that is present at birth or occurs in the developmental period (before the age of 18) and is characterized by significant sub-average intellectual functioning, existing concurrently with related limitations in 2 or more areas of adaptive functioning” (Daul). Roland Johnson, though his life was hard, did not let his “limitations” limit him.
Whilst it is understood that this inaccuracy ranges by 4 points from the test subjects score, Simon Whitaker argues that as IQ tests were designed based on average intelligence rather than every ability, the inaccuracy of the test scores for those with a lower IQ is even higher, stating that the score can be as imprecise as 13 points either way (add ref). this of course if of importance as 13 points could mean the difference between an individual being diagnosed as having a learning disability or considered as having a low IQ, and vice
When learning about Intellectual Disability (ID) it is important to explore the subject with people that work with students of ID. The (SPED) special education team placed together for a student in order to determine the students individual education plan (IEP). This SPED team consist of: Special Educator: Mr. Richard Franklin, General Educator: Ms. Rama Smith (Spelling, Literature), Speech Therapist: Mrs. LuDonna Martin, Principal: Mr. John Denton, Community Organizer and Retired Teacher: Mrs. Nelda Clements and I as the Special
Did you know that over 2 million kids have a disabilities just in the United States. It is sad because some of these kids they don’t get to have a normal life like us. It is sad for some kids because they don’t get a normal life, it is hard for them to make friends, and a daily task for us is difficult task for them. Throughout history the treatment of disabilities has been since the early 1800s .
The first step in any research is to accurately define the population of interest. Intellectual Disability (ID) has been called by many different terms: mental retardation, learning disability, mental handicap, and developmentally delayed. Generally, these terms are accepted as interchangeable (Schalock, Luckasson & Shogren, 2007). However, over time some of the characteristics required to receive a diagnosis of ID has changed. In the recent past, the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Metal Disorders Text Revised (DSM IV TR) identified three criteria necessary to be diagnosed with ID. This included: impairments of intellectual functioning (IQ<70) are not necessarily excluded from the diagnosis. By deemphasized the importance of low IQ the as a defining feature of ID the diagnosis expanded its definition to include individual assessed with borderline intelligence and above (fact sheet reference).
According to the website for the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, IDD is defined as: intellectual disability is a disability characterized by significant limitations both in intellectual functioning and in adaptive behavior, which covers a range of everyday social and practical skills. Furthermore, there are three major criteria for intellectual disability: significant limitations in intellectual functions, significant limitations in adaptive behavior, and onset before the age of 18. IDD is not determined by an IQ test; however, it does help in measuring mental function. A test score below of around 70—or as high as 75—indicates a limitation in intellectual functioning. (http://aaidd.org/intellectual-disability/definition/faqs-on-intellectual-disability#.VZvvE8JRHrc).
Intellectual disability, once referred to as mental retardation, is a disability that refers to a person’s limitation in intelligence (Foreman and Arthur-Kelly,2014). The most common causes of intellectual disabilities are genetic
The American Association of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAID, 2013) states an, “intellectual disability is a disability characterized by significant limitations in both intellectual functioning and in adaptive behavior, which covers many everyday social and practical skills. This disability originates before the age of 18” (para.1). Adaptive behaviors include many everyday social and practical skills such as interpersonal and communication skills, social problem solving and responsibility, the use of time and money, as well as daily personal care and safety.
Children with developmental and intellectual disabilities may encounter difficulties with their activities of daily living that may often lead to poorer health outcomes concerning their educational performances, quality of care and needs (Lindly, Sinche, & Zuckerman, 2015). The demand for health care support is high among this population as parents and child experiences an imbalance in their routine as the care starts to become complex (Robert, Leblanc, & Boyer, 2015). These families need additional support in order to alleviate their situation. As a child goes through their stages in life, the expectations start to rise to a greater level such as being able to read and write, interact with other people, and other developmental
The average IQ score is 100, a score above 130 is labelled as extremely smart while a score below 70 is labelled as developmental delays.
All people who have brown hair are not alike. All people who have disabilities are not
The dominant model of disability for the majority of the 20th century was the medical model. The medical model’s emphasis is on impairment; this is the cause of the disadvantage disabled individuals face and therefore the site of interventions (Crow, 1996). It is based in the biomedical and clinical. It views disability as a personal tragedy, an idea which is often implicit in work around disability based on the medical model. (Oliver, 1990).