Jan. 2011: Intellectual Disability vs. Mental Retardation

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A school psychologist recently asked me a good question:  Must a medical statement for a student considered for mental retardation eligibility state that the student has mental retardation?  Under Oregon regulations, no.  The purpose of the medical statement is to "indicate whether there are any sensory or physical factors that may be affecting the child's educational performance."  In other words, the purpose of the medical statement is to rule out other explanations for the student's delay, not to "diagnose" mental retardation.  And, while we're on this topic, on October 5, 2010, President Obama signed "Rosa's Law" which changed all of the references in IDEA and other federal statutes from "mental retardation" to "intellectual disability", a movement consistent with the trend in the mental health/developmental disability community.  The law does not require states to change terminology in state law, but many states are moving in this direction.  For more background, read this blog.