Jacques Review

November will mark the start of my tenth year working in the intellectually & developmentally disabled field. I spent my 30s, in various shapes and forms, caring for those that are recognized in the general public as the mentally retarded. In fact, using the developmentally disabled to refer to those I serve, generally results in confusion. It requires a longer conversation. Outside of the field, most people don’t know of whom I am referring to with that usage. I don’t blame them.

Prior to my entry into the field, I wasn’t familiar with the usage either. I knew only of one such person, and besides allocating the same amount of respect that I would give to everybody else towards them, I didn’t pay much attention. Retardation was the only word I ever heard in regards to them.

How can we change things? Employees can greatly impact lack of familiarity with the intellectually & developmentally disabled category and people. It is the role of employees, who are familiar with this group, to share with the general public not only the nature of the people they serve (which is most important) but also the more suitable way to refer to them. The use of “mental retardation” has negative connotations”, it was said, became “offensive to many people, and often results in misunderstandings about the nature of the disorder and those who have it” (Federal Register).

According to the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD), “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” (emphasis in original). This definition is in line with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5; American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2013), the authoritative manual for the field.

According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA):

“ID is characterized by

• significant limitations in intellectual functioning (e.g., reasoning, learning, and problem-solving);
• significant limitations in adaptive behavior (i.e., conceptual, social, and practical skills in everyday life); and
• onset in childhood (before the age of 18 years; American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities [AAIDD, 2013]).”

Naturally, those working in the field are in a position to help those unfamiliar with the population to understand them better.

How often have you come across someone that works in the field? And if you have, how often have they familiarized you with a general understanding of the people being served? 

Sources

• American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD)
• American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)
• Federal Register, The Daily Journal of the United States Government Federal Register

I’m always glad to hear from readers. Please like and/or share your thoughts below.