According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5), autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is classified as a developmental disorder, with or without intellectual disability (ID), which is characterized by impairment(s) in reciprocal social communication and social interaction (i.e. turn taking activities, such as a two person conversation) and…

In light of the fiftieth anniversary of President Kennedy's call to action back in 1961, The Arc wanted to know if people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) are still living in the shadows. So, they launched a national online survey, Family and Individual Needs for Disability Supports (FINDS), from July 22, 2010 to October 31,…

Children with disabilities of any kind are not identified in crime statistic systems in the U.S., making it difficult to determine their risk for abuse (Sullivan, 2003). A number of weak and small-scale studies found that children with all types of disabilities are abused more often than children without disabilities. According to researchers,…

Intellectual disability is a disability that occurs before age 18. People with this disability experience significant limitations in two main areas: 1) intellectual functioning and 2) adaptive behavior. These limitations are expressed in the person's conceptual, social and practical everyday living skills. A number of people with intellectual…