Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Logo
Special Education

Intellectual Impairment

The permanent capacity for performing cognitive tasks, functions, or problem solving is significantly limited or impaired and is exhibited by more than one of the following: a slower rate of learning; disorganized patterns of learning; difficulty with adaptive behavior; and/or difficulty understanding abstract concepts. Such term shall include students with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

The ARC
The Arc of the United States advocates for the rights and full participation of all children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

CDC — Intellectual Disabilities
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is one of the 13 major operating components of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which is the principal agency in the United States government for protecting the health and safety of all Americans and for providing essential human services. This site presents information and resources on intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Department of Developmental Services (DDS) — Massachusetts
DDS provides assistance in job placement, transportation, housing, or intense levels of treatment, monitoring and care. DDS provides these services through state-operated programs and with 265 provider agencies across the state.

Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center (iddrc)
The IDDRC Program at UMass Medical School provides core support and facilities for cohesive, interdisciplinary research and research training to advance efforts to understand, ameliorate, and prevent intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Intellectual Disability — National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities
The National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities serves the nation as a central source of information on: disabilities in infants, toddlers, children, and youth, IDEA, which is the law authorizing special education, No Child Left Behind (as it relates to children with disabilities), and research-based information on effective educational practices.

The President's Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities
The Committee acts in an advisory capacity to provide advice and assistance to the President of the United States and the Secretary of Health and Human Services on a broad range of topics that impact people with intellectual disabilities and the field of intellectual disabilities.

Last Updated: July 11, 2014

 
Contact Us

Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
135 Santilli Highway, Everett, MA 02149

Voice: (781) 338-3000
TTY: (800) 439-2370

Directions

Disclaimer: A reference in this website to any specific commercial products, processes, or services, or the use of any trade, firm, or corporation name is for the information and convenience of the public and does not constitute endorsement or recommendation by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.