Intellectual Disability

Intellectual Disability (ID), once called mental retardation, is characterized by below-average intelligence or mental ability and a lack of skills necessary for day-to-day living. People with intellectual disabilities can and do learn new skills, but they learn them more slowly.

There are varying degrees of intellectual disability, from mild to profound.

Someone with Intellectual Disability has limitations in two areas. These areas are:

• Intellectual functioning. Also known as Intelligent Quotient (IQ), this refers to a person’s ability to learn, reason, make decisions, and solve problems.
• Adaptive behaviours. These are skills necessary for day-to-day life, such as being able to communicate effectively, interact with others, and take care of oneself.

Intellectual Disability is thought to affect about 1% of the population. Of those affected, 85% have mild intellectual disability. This means they are just a little slower than average to learn new information or skills. With the right support, most will be able to live independently as adults.