Intellectual Disability (ID)
What does Intellectual Disability mean?
Intellectual disability involves significant differences in intellectual functioning and adaptive functioning that begin during development. Some autistic children also have an intellectual disability, while many do not.
Why this term matters
Knowing whether a child has an intellectual disability alongside autism helps families, educators, and support teams understand the child's strengths and the kinds of environments and strategies where they will thrive — it shapes decisions about programming, communication supports, and longer-term planning.
Canadian context
In Canada, eligibility for disability-specific funding, services, and adult supports often considers whether an intellectual disability is present, and criteria are set by provincial and territorial programs whose administrators make eligibility decisions. Families may wish to review what is available in their province or territory as their child grows.
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