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What is mental retardation? Mental retardation is a disability characterized by significant limitations both in intellectual functioning and in adaptive behavior as expressed in conceptual, social, and practical adaptive skills. A complete and accurate understanding of mental retardation involves relying that mental retardation refers to a particular state of functioning that begins in childhood, has many dimensions, and is affected positively by individualized supports.
Has the definition of mental retardation always been the same?The definition of mental retardation was updated many times. Changes in the definition have occurred when there is new information, or there are changes in clinical practice or breakthroughs in scientific research.
What are causes of mental retardation? The causes of mental retardation can be divided into biomedical, social, behavioral and educational risk factors that interact during the life of an individual and/or across generations from parent to child. Biomedical factors are related to biologic process, such as genetic disorders or nutrition. Behavioral factors are related social and family interaction, such as child stimulation and adult responsiveness. And educational factors are
related to the availability of family and educational supports that promote mental development and increases in adaptive skills. Also, factors present during one generation influence the outcomes of the next generation.
What is intelligence? Intelligence refers to a general mental capability. It involves the ability to reason, plan, solve problems, think abstractly, learn quickly, and learn from experience. Although not perfect,
intelligence is represented by Intelligent Quotient (IQ) scores obtained from standardized tests given by a trained professional. In regard to the intellectual criterion for the diagnosis of mental retardation, mental retardation
is generally thought to be present if an individual has an IQ test score of approximately 70 or below. An obtained IQ score must always be considered in light of its standard error of measurement, appropriateness, and consistency
with administration guidelines. However, an IQ score is only one aspect in determining if a person has mental retardation. Significant limitations in adaptive behavior skills and evidence that the disability was present before age
18 are two additional elements that are critical in determining if person has mental retardation.
What is adaptive behavior? Adaptive behavior is the collection of conceptual, social, and practical skills that people have learned so they can function in their everyday lives. Significant limitations in adaptive behavior
impact a person's daily life and affect the ability to respond to a particular situation or to the environment. Limitations in adaptive behavior can be determined by using standardized tests that are normalized on the general population
including people with disabilities and people without disabilities. On these standardized measures, significant limitations in adaptive behavior are operationally defined as performance that is at least 2 standard deviations below the
mean of either (a) one of the following three types of adaptive behavior: conceptual, social, or practical, or (b) an overall score on a standardized measure of conceptual, social, and practical skills.
Conceptual skills
- Receptive and expressive language
- Reading and writing
- Money concepts
Social skills
- Interpersonal
- Responsibility
- Self-esteem
- Gullibility
- Naivete
- Follows rules
Practical skills
- eating
- dressing
- mobility
- preparing meals
- taking medication
- using the telephone
- managing money
- using transportation
What are supports? The concept of supports originated about 15 years ago and it has revolutionized the way habilitation
and education services are provided to persons with mental retardation. Rather than mold individuals into pre-existing diagnostic categories and
force them into existing models of service, the supports approach evaluates the specific needs of the individual and then suggests strategies,
services and supports that will optimize individual functioning. The supports approach also recognizes that individual needs and circumstances
will change over time. Supports are defined as the resources and individual strategies necessary to promote the development, education, interests,
and personal well-being of a person with mental retardation. Supports can be provided by a parent, friend, teacher, psychologist or doctor.
Why is support important? Providing individualized supports can improve personal functioning, promote self-determination
and societal inclusion, and improve personal well-being of a person with mental retardation. Focusing on supports as the way to improve education, employment,
recreation, and living environments is an important part of person-centered approaches to providing supports to people with mental retardation.
How do you determine what supports are needed? General recommendation is that an individual's need for
supports must be analyzed in at least nine key areas such as human development, teaching and education, home living, community living, employment,
health and safety, behavior, social, and protection and advocacy.
What are examples of supports areas and support activities?
Human development activities
- Physical development opportunities that include eye-hand coordination, fine motor skills, and gross motor activities
- Cognitive development opportunities such as using words and images
- Social and emotional development activities to bring up trust, autonomy, and initiative
Teaching and educational activities
- Interaction with defectologist, work instructors, trainers and teachers
- Participating in making decisions
- Learning and using problem-solving strategies
- Using technology for learning
- Learning and self-determination skills
Home living activities
- Using the restroom/toilet
- Laundering and taking care of clothes
- Preparing and eating food
- Housekeeping and cleaning
- Dressing
- Bathing and taking care of personal hygiene and grooming needs
- Operating home appliances and technology
- Leisure activities
Community Living activities
- Using transportation
- Participating in recreation and leisure activities
- Going to visit friend and family
- Shopping and purchasing goods
- Interacting with community members
Employment activities
- Learning and using specific job skills
- Interacting with co-workers
- Interacting with supervisors
- Completing work-related tasks with speed and quality
- Changing job assignments
Health and safety activities
- Obtaining therapy services
- Taking medication
- Avoiding health and safety risks
- Maintaining nutritious diet
- Maintaining physical health
- Maintaining mental health
Behavioral activities
- Learning specific skills and behaviors
- Learning and making appropriate decisions
- Maintaining socially appropriate behavior in public
- Controlling anger and aggression
Social activities
- Socializing within family
- Participating in recreation and leisure activities
- Socializing outside the family
- Making and keeping friends
- Communicating with others about personal needs
- Engaging in loving and intimate relationships
- Offering assistance
Protecting activities
- Managing money and personal finances
- Protecting self from exploitation
- Exercising legal rights and responsibilities
- Using banks and caching checks
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