The evolving construct of intellectual disability: is everything old new again?

Abstract

The American Association on Mental Retardation (AAMR) is a very influential body in the arena of intellectual disability. It has a long and distinguished history of advocacy for individuals with an intellectual disability, of disseminating information, and of publishing work relevant to intellectual disability. One of the roles the AAMR has undertaken has been to define and classify intellectual disability. It published its first manual on definition in 1921 and its tenth in 2002. In 1992 the AAMR published the 9th edition of the manual for the definition of mental retardation (intellectual disability in Australia and learning disability in the United Kingdom). This definition varied substantially from that of the 8th edition (1983) which had remained largely unchanged from the publication in 1973 of the 6th edition. The 1992 definition states: “Mental retardation refers to substantial limitation in present functioning. It is characterized by significantly subaverage intellectual functioning, existing concurrently with related limitations in two or more of the following applicable adaptive skill areas: communication, self-care, home living, social skills, community use, self-direction, health and safety, functional academics, leisure, and work. Mental retardation manifests before age 18”