Implications of Intellectual Disabilities

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Implications of Intellectual Disabilities SOC 313 Instructor Daniel Villa May 21, 2012 According to our text, “Intellectual disability is characterized by: significant limitations both in intellectual functioning and in adaptive behavior as expressed in conceptual, social, and practical adaptive skills. This disability originates before age 18” (Falvo, 2009, p. 196). The actual diagnosis of an intellectual disability, a subcategory of developmental disabilities, comes from evaluation of adaptive behavior and intellectual function. The adaptive behavior component is to be the focus of this paper. “Adaptive behavior is typically assessed through observation of the individual as he or she performs various skills used to function in everyday life. Skills assessed usually include communication, calculation, self-direction, social skills, activities of daily living, and job-related skills” (Falvo, 2009, p. 197). I have been working in the field of intellectual disabilities for nearly fourteen years and have observed and learned a great deal of information about adaptive skill levels impact the social roles among this population. With strong adaptive skills, a person is able to fulfill a role within society with a fair degree of anonymity. That is, a person with strong conceptual, social and practical skills is able to blend in as a part of society in many ways and his or her social role is not viewed as above or beneath that of any other member of the group. However, when an individual’s adaptive skills are less than what is viewed as acceptable by society, a person with intellectual disabilities fulfills a completely different role. “Individuals with intellectual disability have below-average general intellectual functioning for their stage of development as well as limitations in adaptive functioning or basic skills needed to manage age-appropriate

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