Mental retardation comprises five general categories: borderline, mild, moderate, severe and profound.

Specialty. Psychiatry, pediatrics. Frequency. 153 million (2015) Intellectual disability (ID), also known as general learning disability and formerly mental retardation (MR), is a generalized neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by significantly impaired intellectual and adaptive functioning.

At this time and for the foreseeable future, the definition and assumptions of intellectual disability/mental retardation remain those promulgated by AAMR in 2002; the term, however, is changed to intellectual disability.

Otherwise, the terms mental disability, intellectual disability and developmental disability are acceptable. See entry on mentally retarded/mentally disabled, intellectually disabled, developmentally disabled . Midget: The term was used in the past to describe an unusually short and proportionate person.

It is okay to use words or phrases such as “disabled,” “disability,” or “people with disabilities” when talking about disability issues. Ask the people you are with which term they prefer if they have a disability. When in doubt, call a person with a disability by his/her name.

A person isn’t a disability, condition or diagnosis; a person has a disability, condition or diagnosis. This is called Person-First Language….3. In general, refer to the person first and the disability second.

Term Now Used: disabled person, person with a disability. Term no longer in use: the handicapped. Term Now Used: disabled person, person with a disability.

2. Words to use and avoid

Ableism is the discrimination of and social prejudice against people with disabilities based on the belief that typical abilities are superior.

When referring to disability, the American Psychological Association (APA) urges that it is often best to “put the person first.” In practice, this means that instead of referring to a “disabled person,” use “person with a disability.” Why?

Communicating with People with Hearing Loss

1. Face the hearing-impaired person directly, on the same level and in good light whenever possible.
2. Do not talk from another room.
3. Speak clearly, slowly, distinctly, but naturally, without shouting or exaggerating mouth movements.

But in any conversation, asking anything overly personal is not ok, especially if it’s the first time you’ve met. Immediately asking someone about their disability (“were you born that way?” for example) says to the person that the first thing you noticed about them was their disability.

The law places strict limits on employers when it comes to asking any job applicants to answer disability-related questions, take a medical exam, or identify a disability. For example, an employer may not ask a job applicant to answer disability-related questions or take a medical exam before extending a job offer.

Common signs that a person may have learning disabilities include the following:

1. Problems reading and/or writing.
2. Problems with math.
3. Poor memory.
4. Problems paying attention.
5. Trouble following directions.
6. Clumsiness.
7. Trouble telling time.
8. Problems staying organized.

If you are a job applicant, the potential employer may not ask you to take a medical exam or ask any disability-related questions. The employer may ask questions about your ability to perform specific job functions, including asking you to describe or demonstrate how you would perform those functions.

It is legal to ask why a person is not wearing a mask, including asking about a medical condition that prevents it. There are no legal prohibitions on what people can say to one another about their health.

A disability is any condition of the body or mind (impairment) that makes it more difficult for the person with the condition to do certain activities (activity limitation) and interact with the world around them (participation restrictions).