Developmental Disabilities Midterm
Review Exam with Correct Answers
2026 Updated.
What are the meanings of developmental disability? - Answer social, literal, personal,
definitional, and critical disability
What are some terms we no longer use for developmental disability? - Answer mental
retardation, imbecile, idiot, mental deficiency..
What is the personal definition of developmental disability? - Answer describes an
individual's strengths and needs, describes profile and abilities
How to help someone based on their needs
What is the literal definition of developmental disability? - Answer refers to specific
characteristics of the term, specific groups are given specific label
used to diagnose
can be bad due to discrimination or prejudice
What is the social definition of developmental disability? - Answer personal and literal
meaning
how society views are particular diagnosis
affected by society's tolerance, acceptance, and understanding
What is the critical disability definition of developmental disability? - Answer Focused on
shortcomings and limitations
"Wrongly" focused definition
Pessimistic view, a lot of pushback being received for this view
,Refers to the oppression of those with DDs by people in authority positions
What are developmental disabilities? - Answer term used to describe life-long disabilities
attributable to intellectual and/or physical impairments, manifested prior to age 18
used throughout Ontario to describe certain conditions
Misuse can occur which can marginalize and discriminate
What is the definitional meaning of developmental disability? - Answer Use of specific
criteria to define the presence or absence of a developmental disability
Sampling time in a skill set
What are human rights? - Answer all people, no matter their abilities or disabilities, are
members of the human race and are entitled to equal rights
Laws that protect from discrimination in a variety of settings such as work, study, looking for
work, housind
Creating an environment that enables everyone to maximize their potential
What is social responsibility? - Answer disability is not existent because of impairment, but
because society does not accept its responsibility to provide necessary means to support and
accommodate all of its members
What does AAIDD stand for? - Answer American Association on Intellectual and
Developmental Disabilities
5 assumptions of the AAIDD definition - Answer -Must consider context, age, and community
-Assessment must be valid and consider culture; language; sensory, motor, and behavioral
issues; and differences in communication
-Individuals have both limitations and strengths
-Should develop profile of needed supports
-Life functioning can improve over time with use of appropriate supports
What does WHO stand for? - Answer World Health Organization
, What is the ICD-11? - Answer Used to create taxonomies that are consistent worldwide for
IDs.
What is the ICD-11 definition of developmental disability? - Answer group of etiologically
diverse conditions originating during the developmental period (childhood) that are
characterized by below average functioning and adaptive behaviour that are two or more
standard deviations below the mean
Based on standardized tests, compare to average for age group
Broader scope, more inclusive, used outside of NA as well
Similarities between the AAIDD and ICD-11 - Answer Both based on intellectual impairments,
adaptive behaviour deficits, and onset during the developmental period
Use of standardized testing
Difference between AAIDD and ICD-11 - Answer ICD allows for use of clinical judgement
where standardized testing is not possible
What is the DSM-5? - Answer Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
Not based on IQ
Deficits in 3 domains: conceptual, social, practical
Conceptual is skills in intellectual functioning, social is skills in communication, practical are
daily living skills
Specifiers to tell how much support one may need
Includes only mental disorders
Used in NA
What are the DSM-5 Specifiers? - Answer mild, moderate, severe, profound
Review Exam with Correct Answers
2026 Updated.
What are the meanings of developmental disability? - Answer social, literal, personal,
definitional, and critical disability
What are some terms we no longer use for developmental disability? - Answer mental
retardation, imbecile, idiot, mental deficiency..
What is the personal definition of developmental disability? - Answer describes an
individual's strengths and needs, describes profile and abilities
How to help someone based on their needs
What is the literal definition of developmental disability? - Answer refers to specific
characteristics of the term, specific groups are given specific label
used to diagnose
can be bad due to discrimination or prejudice
What is the social definition of developmental disability? - Answer personal and literal
meaning
how society views are particular diagnosis
affected by society's tolerance, acceptance, and understanding
What is the critical disability definition of developmental disability? - Answer Focused on
shortcomings and limitations
"Wrongly" focused definition
Pessimistic view, a lot of pushback being received for this view
,Refers to the oppression of those with DDs by people in authority positions
What are developmental disabilities? - Answer term used to describe life-long disabilities
attributable to intellectual and/or physical impairments, manifested prior to age 18
used throughout Ontario to describe certain conditions
Misuse can occur which can marginalize and discriminate
What is the definitional meaning of developmental disability? - Answer Use of specific
criteria to define the presence or absence of a developmental disability
Sampling time in a skill set
What are human rights? - Answer all people, no matter their abilities or disabilities, are
members of the human race and are entitled to equal rights
Laws that protect from discrimination in a variety of settings such as work, study, looking for
work, housind
Creating an environment that enables everyone to maximize their potential
What is social responsibility? - Answer disability is not existent because of impairment, but
because society does not accept its responsibility to provide necessary means to support and
accommodate all of its members
What does AAIDD stand for? - Answer American Association on Intellectual and
Developmental Disabilities
5 assumptions of the AAIDD definition - Answer -Must consider context, age, and community
-Assessment must be valid and consider culture; language; sensory, motor, and behavioral
issues; and differences in communication
-Individuals have both limitations and strengths
-Should develop profile of needed supports
-Life functioning can improve over time with use of appropriate supports
What does WHO stand for? - Answer World Health Organization
, What is the ICD-11? - Answer Used to create taxonomies that are consistent worldwide for
IDs.
What is the ICD-11 definition of developmental disability? - Answer group of etiologically
diverse conditions originating during the developmental period (childhood) that are
characterized by below average functioning and adaptive behaviour that are two or more
standard deviations below the mean
Based on standardized tests, compare to average for age group
Broader scope, more inclusive, used outside of NA as well
Similarities between the AAIDD and ICD-11 - Answer Both based on intellectual impairments,
adaptive behaviour deficits, and onset during the developmental period
Use of standardized testing
Difference between AAIDD and ICD-11 - Answer ICD allows for use of clinical judgement
where standardized testing is not possible
What is the DSM-5? - Answer Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
Not based on IQ
Deficits in 3 domains: conceptual, social, practical
Conceptual is skills in intellectual functioning, social is skills in communication, practical are
daily living skills
Specifiers to tell how much support one may need
Includes only mental disorders
Used in NA
What are the DSM-5 Specifiers? - Answer mild, moderate, severe, profound
