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Resources on the AAIDD Approach to Diagnosis, Classification, and Systems of Support

FAQs

The answers to these FAQs may help you understand the AAIDD system of defining and diagnosing intellectual disability as explained in the 11th edition of the Association's Intellectual Disability: Definition, Classification, and Systems of Supports.

Videos

Watch video interviews with three authors of the AAIDD definition manual.

• Dr. Marti Snell on how the AAIDD Definition System applies to special education classrooms and how it is compatible with U.S. federal law and the IDEA.
• Dr. Ruth Luckasson explains why every lawyer defending a person with an intellectual disability should understand the AAIDD System in order to best represent their client.
• Dr. Robert Schalock talks about what went into the making of the 11th edition of the AAIDD definition manual and best practices advice for professionals.

Presentations

Slides for the September 27 webinar on individualized supports planning in special education

The following presentations were made at the AAIDD 2010 conference in Providence, Rhode Island, as part of a one-day workshop.

• Overview of Intellectual Disability: Definition, Classification, And Systems of Supports
• Support needs and supports: Conceptual foundations
• Professional responsibility, ethics, and clinical judgment
• For support providers
• Health
• Public policy
  

Articles

Schalock, R. L., Luckasson, R. A., & Shogren, K. A. et al. (2007). The renaming of mental retardation: Understanding the change to the term intellectual disability. Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 45 (2), 116-124.

Snell, M.E. & Luckasson, R. et al. (2009). Characteristics and needs of people with intellectual disability who have higher IQs. Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 47 (3), 220-233.

Thompson, J.R., Bradley, V. J., Buntinx, W. H.E., Schalock, R.L., Shogren, K.A. Snell, M.E. & Wehmeyer, M.L. et al. (2009). Conceptualizing supports and the support needs of people with intellectual disability. Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 47 (2), 135-146.

Wehmeyer, M.L., Buntinx, W. H.E., Lachapelle, Y., Luckasson, R. A., Schalock, R.L., & Verdugo, M.A. et al. (2008). The disability construct and its relation to human functioning. Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 46 (4), 311-318.

Shogren, K.A., Bradley, V. J., Gomez, S.C., Yeager, M.H., and Schalock, R. L. et al. (2009). Public policy and the enhancement of desired public policy outcomes for persons with intellectual disability. Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. 47 (4), 307-319

The AAIDD Terminology & Classification Committee response to the APA operational definition of intellectual disability, February 2010