Entry
Entries A-Z
Mental Retardation (Education)
A developmental disability that is identified when one's intellectual ability and adaptive behavior are significantly below what is expected in the social community. It is defined by the current culture, and, therefore, the definition varies across time and place.
In the United States, the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (formerly the American Association on Mental Retardation) leads the way in defining mental retardation. In 2002, they proposed their 10th definition in 94 years. This definition states, “Mental retardation [intellectual disability] is a disability characterized by significant limitations both in intellectual functioning and in adaptive behavior as expressed in conceptual, social, and practical adaptive skills. This disability originates before age 18.”
Both the American Psychological Association and the American Psychiatric Association provide similar definitions. The ...