Developmental Disability Professionals Day 2023: Date, History, Facts about Intellectual Disability

Every year on July 15, Developmental Disability Professionals Day is observed. This day is dedicated to recognising the work of professionals in the field of developmental disabilities, who frequently go unnoticed despite providing services to some of the most vulnerable individuals in the country. The day was instituted in 2020 by the National Association for Qualified Intellectual Disabilities Specialists (N.A.Q.), the leading national organisation recognising professionals with developmental disabilities.

The background of Developmental Disability Professionals Day

Depending on the state in which they serve, these professionals include Qualified Intellectual Disabilities Professionals (Q.I.D.Ps), case managers, service coordinators, and others. They help individuals with developmental disabilities by facilitating the provision of residential services, creating employment opportunities, acting as behaviour analysts, and coordinating medical services, among other things.

The term “Qualified Mental Retardation Professional” (Q.M.R.P.) was first coined for intermediate care institutions for the developmentally disabled in the late 1970s and early 1980s federal guidelines. The term “mental retardation” was replaced with “intellectual disability” after the Centres for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) implemented a change in terminology and President Obama signed Rosa’s Law in 2010. Consequently, a number of states and organisations renamed Q.M.R.P.s as Q.D.D.P.s or Q.I.D.P.s.

In December 2013, the C.M.S. updated the language used to denote developmental impairments in Appendix J. In 1996, Trinity Services employees established N.A.Q. to meet the needs of Developmental Disability Professionals (D.D.Ps). It focuses on historical, conceptual, methodological, and ethical concerns associated with D.D.Ps. It also facilitates networking with other professionals, facilitates the exchange of evidence-based best practises, and serves as a resource for learning and ongoing education.

When it was founded, the organisation was known as the National Association of Qualified Mental Retardation Professionals. Since most states had stopped using the term’mental retardation’ outside of diagnostic or reporting requirements, the National Association of Qualified Developmental Disability Professionals altered its name in 2009 to reflect this. In 2018, they altered their name to “the National Association of Qualified Intellectual Disability Professionals” to conform with federal terminology. Finally, in 2022, they changed their name to simply ‘N.A.Q.’

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5 essential facts about intellectual disability

Intellectual disability can be caused by genetic conditions, complications during pregnancy, complications during labour and birth, or other health issues such as exposure to toxins like lead or mercury, or acute malnutrition.

An estimated seven to eight million individuals in the United States have an intellectual disability, affecting one in ten families.

Children with intellectual disabilities may sit up, crawl, or walk later than other children; learn to talk later or have difficulty speaking; have difficulty remembering things, not understanding how to pay for things, having difficulty understanding social rules, having difficulty seeing the consequences of their actions, having difficulty solving problems, and/or having difficulty thinking logically.

A child with an intellectual disability can perform well in school, but will likely require additional support and assistance with adaptive skills, such as reading or communicating.

Special education and related services for school-aged children are free, and the staff will collaborate with the parents to develop an Individualised Education Programme.

DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY PROFESSIONALS DAY DATES

Year	Date	Day
2023	July 15	Saturday
2024	July 15	Monday
2025	July 15	Tuesday
2026	July 15	Wednesday
2027	July 15	Thursday