many as 3 out of every 100 people in the country have mental retardation (The Arc, 2001). Nearly 613,000 children ages 6 to 21 have some level of mental retardation and need special education in school (Twenty-fourth Annual Report to Congress, U.S. Department of Education, 2002). In fact, 1 out of every 10 children who need special education has some form of mental retardation. (This response prepared by the National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities, formerly NICHCY.)

Mental retardation can be caused by any condition, which impairs development of the brain before birth, during birth or in the childhood years. Several hundred causes have been discovered, but in about one-third of the people affected, the cause remains unknown.

sit up, crawl, or walk later than other children; learn to talk later, or have trouble speaking; find it hard to remember things; not understand how to pay for things; have trouble understanding social rules; have trouble seeing the consequences of their actions; have trouble solving problems; and/or have trouble thinking logically. About 87% of people with mental retardation will be only a little slower than average in learning new information and skills.

During the past 30 years, significant advances in research have prevented many cases of mental retardation.

People with mental retardation show delays in learning, a slower pace of learning, and difficulty in applying learning. Approximately 200,000 people in New York are thought to have mental retardation. Mental retardation can result from a variety of factors, among them premature birth, genetic abnormalities, malnutrition, exposure to toxic agents, and social deprivation.

The Arc reviewed a number of prevalence studies in the early 1980s and concluded that 2.5 to 3 percent of the general population has mental retardation (The Arc, 1982). Based on the 1990 census, an estimated 6.2 to 7.5 million people have mental retardation. Mental retardation is 10 times more common than cerebral palsy and 28 times more prevalent than neural tube defects such as spina bifida. It affects 25 times as many people as blindness.

The effects of mental retardation vary considerably among people, just as the range of abilities varies considerably among people who do not have mental retardation. About 87 percent will be mildly affected and will be only a little slower than average in learning new information and skills. As children, their mental retardation is not readily apparent and may not be identified until they enter school.

No. Mental retardation cases are confidential. All hearings are closed to the public. Only the parties involved may see the case file.

Mental retardation is not mental illness. Mental retardation refers to a person’s capability to think and reason. Mental illness is an emotional disturbance. There may be one occurrence or several which can develop at any time in a person’s life. Like anyone else, a person with mental retardation may become emotionally disturbed or mentally ill, but they are separate conditions.

Answer: If they have not been legally, through a probate court of jurisdiction, declared incapacitated (unable to make decisions for themselves), they have all their rights and may vote just as any other citizen. Home | Search | Contact Us | Alabama.Gov | Accessibility Policy | Privacy Policy | Security Policy | Disclaimer

Yes, HeartShare opened a new program for children ages 5-14 with autism and mental retardation in April, 2007. The program is at 1825 Bath Avenue, Brooklyn. There will be three classes for autism and the spectrum disorders and two classes for children with mental retardation. For more information, please call (718) 323-2877.

A - Any person, who is 18 years of age, and has been properly diagnosed as having mental retardation, pervasive developmental disorder, or autism qualifies for services.

The Mentally Retarded have a diminished intellectual capacity usually present since birth. Those with Mental Illnesses are usually of normal intelligence although they may have difficulty performing at a normal level due to their illness. Early identification and treatment is of vital importance; By ensuring access to the treatment and recovery supports that are proven effective, recovery is accelerated and the further harm related to the course of illness is minimized.

No. A recent study of 61 adolescents and adults with FAS or FAE revealed IQ scores ranging from 20 to 105, with an average of 68. Fifty-eight percent of these individuals had an IQ score of 70 or below (Streissguth, et al., 1991).

A few jobs where workers with mental retardation have proven themselves competitively include: animal caretakers, laundry workers, building maintenance workers, library assistants, data entry clerks, mail clerks, textile machine tenders, carpenters, medical technicians, store clerks, nursery workers, messengers, cooks, automobile mechanics' helpers, engineering aides, printers, assemblers, factory workers, furniture refinishers, radio and TV repair helpers, photocopy attendants, nursing aides, c.

Establishment of eligibility is required before a person may receive any service. Eligibility is determined at the Eligibility Determination Unit. (please see listing). Providing this unit with previously documented evidence of a qualifying diagnosis (i.e., mental retardation, autism, PDD, related condition) will expedite service entry. Once this information is obtained, it generally takes no more than a few weeks to access services.