New Edition of AAMR Classic Defines Mental Retardation; Proposes New System of Supports for Persons with Developmental Disabilities

7/17/2002

From: Bruce Appelgren of the American Association on Mental Retardation, 202-387-1968

WASHINGTON, July 17 -- What is mental retardation? How is it diagnosed and classified? Can Intelligence Quotient (IQ) alone determine whether a person has mental retardation? What are supports and how can they help persons with mental retardation? The new 10th edition of Mental Retardation: Definition, Classification, and Systems of Supports answers these questions in-depth. Published by the American Association on Mental Retardation (AAMR), the book contains the latest version of the most widely used definition of mental retardation in the United States.

"The 10th edition brings the concept of mental retardation into the 21st century," says Ruth Luckasson, president of AAMR and chair of the panel of 11 international experts who wrote the book. "Mental Retardation is an indispensable resource for anyone with an interest in developmental disabilities." States and the courts in the U.S. will find it particularly helpful in understanding mental retardation, given the recent Supreme Court decision banning the execution of persons with mental retardation.

Mental Retardation combines the latest clinical research with ten years of experience gained from using the landmark 1992 definition of MR, the first to propose an emphasis on supports in working with persons with mental retardation. Supports, cornerstone of the AAMR approach to mental retardation, considers the specific needs of each person with mental retardation rather than force individuals into judgmental diagnostic categories and limited models of service.

"Once again, with the 10th edition of Mental Retardation, the spotlight is on supports and AAMR is committed to this individual, person-centered approach to diagnosing and caring for persons with mental retardation," says Doreen Croser, executive director of AAMR. "The book is a positive and uplifting message for the entire disability community."

Mental Retardation also comes with a workbook containing key terms, examples, case studies, and ready-to-use forms that make it easier for practitioners to understand and implement the theoretical basis of the definition.

BOOK: 7" X 10", 238 pp., hardcover. $79.95 ISBN 0-940898-81-0 WORKBOOK: 8 1/2" x 11", 70 pp., paper. $29.95 ISBN 0-940898-82-9 EVALUATION FORMS: 3 sets of 14 forms. $12.95 ISBN 0-940898-83-7 COMPLETE SET: Book, workbook, forms. $122.85 ISBN 0-940898-84-5

CONTACTS: Book information: Bruce Appelgren, 202-387-1968 or brucea@aamr.org Review copy: Anna Prabhala, 202-387-1968 or annap@aamr.org

------ Founded in 1876, the mission of AAMR is to promote progressive policies, sound research, effective practices, and universal human rights for people with intellectual disabilities.