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“The AAIDD Definition framework offers a wonderful overview to university students in psychology and educational sciences and makes them about supports within the community as a direct way to influence the quality of life of the children and adults they work with.”  Geert Van Hove, Professor, Ghent University, Belgium

An indispensable desk-top reference and primer on assessing intellectual disability that includes a compendium of leading practices on structuring effective life-long supports.”   Renee L. Pietrangelo, CEO, ANCOR-Providers offering quality supports to people with disabilities

The ninth and tenth editions of the AAIDD Definition Manual have been indispensable to courts and other policy makers seeking to understand intellectual disabilities.  I am confident that they will find this new edition to be similarly essential reading.”  James E. Ellis, Professor of Law, University of New Mexico

AAIDD has influenced the way we define and classify students in schools for many decades.  This edition goes further than any of the previous manuals in providing guidance to school-based professionals who work with students with intellectual disability.  Specifically, the 11th edition now includes a chapter on “Implications for Education” with sections on the use of the definition and classification systems in school settings, best educational practices, and the application of a supports-based model within the school context.”  James Patton, Adjunct Associate Faculty, University of Texas at Austin

Since 1992 FEAPS has assumed the AAIDD proposals within its Manuals, and so we welcome with optimism this new edition. FEAPS is the Spanish organization that offers – through more than 850 families associations – support to nearly 100.000 people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and to their families. In order to continue moving forward with our mission of improving the quality of life of people with intellectual disability and their families, we think the vision and the knowledge to be shared in this new edition will be a great value for us. We celebrate that this AAIDD Manual continues to foster the shared commitment of helping support provider organizations. Thanks to this new Manual, FEAPS will continue improving his commitment of offering the best supports to each person with intellectual and developmental disabilities, with the aim to help them to reach their purposes for a happy and full life."  Dr. Miguel Angel Verdugo on behalf of FEAPS, Spain

The 11th edition of the AAIDD Definition Manual continues our progress in both describing a person with an intellectual disability in several dimensions, not solely based on IQ or adaptive behavior, and integrating further the concept of supports into the definition and practice.  The interaction between a person with an intellectual disability diagnosis and his or her environment is fully incorporated into this edition.  Refinements based on an extensive feedback system, both in the field and in peer-reviewed literature are incorporated making the 11th edition the most advanced tool of its kind."  Steven M. Eidelman, Professor and Co-Director, National Leadership Consortium, University of Delaware

The 11th Edition of AAIDD’s book, Intellectual Disability: Diagnosis, Classification, and Systems of Supports (2010), builds upon its impressive 1992 and 2002 predecessors in its critical focus on viewing intellectual disability from a functional and socio-ecological perspective. That perspective is essential for all those interested in understanding the legal rights of people with intellectual disabilities and their justice demands in a broad range of societal activities.  In adopting the term “intellectual disability” instead of the previous term “mental retardation,” the AAIDD Manual not only responds to current developments in the field but will serve as an important influence on policy-makers, researchers, clinicians, lawyers in the field of disability law and others in the years to come.  This is an extraordinarily impressive and helpful work."  Robert Dinerstein, Professor of Law, American University, Washington College of Law

“The 11th edition of the AAIDD Definition Manual is an important book, reflecting more contemporary terminology and important changes in the field's understanding of intellectual disabilities over the past several years. The shift toward a multidimensional conceptual framework for diagnosis and planning offers a promising approach for state developmental disabilities agencies, particularly those interested in aligning intake and eligibility determination with emerging state policy trends in service provision, person-centered plan development and resource allocation."  Nancy Thaler, Executive Director, and Charles R. Moseley, Associate Executive Director, National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services