“What do you expect? She is mentally retarded!”: On Meeting the Health Challenges of Individuals with Intellectual Disability

摘要

On balance, the life expectancy of people with intellectual disability is significantly less than it is for the general population. For the most part, individuals with intellectual disability die from the same diseases as "the rest of us": heart disease, stroke and cancer. But for the most part, they die earlier from those same diseases, not because of the special nature of intellectual disability, but because they are less likely to be diagnosed and treated in time, and because they are less likely to be exposed to health promotion and disease prevention information, services and supports. The literature on the subject is clear: overall, the health needs of people with intellectual disability are not being effectively met. In this article, the author discusses the reasons for this state of affairs and suggests ways to correct the condition.