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Adaptive Functioning and Communication

Adaptive Functioning and Communication in Adults With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Introduction

This fact sheet explains the different levels of intellectual functioning within intellectual and developmental disability (IDD). Awareness of the intellectual abilities and corresponding adaptive functioning of persons with IDD helps healthcare providers to understand and accommodate for their patient’s conceptual, social, practical and communication skills, optimizing the clinical encounter.

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  • Understanding special voices

    The video Understanding Special Voices offers glimpses into the lives of five people with intellectual and developmental disabilities who communicate uniquely. Those who know them intimately help us to understand their distinct personalities and ways of expressing themselves beyond words. Listen to and learn from the Special Voices of Aziz, Chris, Lizzie, Diana, and Barton. Enjoy your eight minutes with them and your future encounters with people who have special voices. Video developed by the Curriculum of Caring, McMaster University, 2017 [8:10 minutes].

  • Practice tools

    Psychological Assessments: Frequently Asked Questions

    The tool Psychological Assessment in Intellectual and Developmental Disability: Frequently Asked Questions is an info sheet of commonly asked questions about obtaining a psychological assessment when there is a suspected or confirmed intellectual or developmental disability. Developed by the Developmental Disabilities Primary Care Program of Surrey Place, Toronto (2019).

  • Clinical Practice Guidelines

    This tool facilitates the implementation of the clinical practice guidelines Person-centered Approach to Care, Effective Communication and Capacity for Decision-Making, published in: Primary care of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities: 2018 Canadian consensus guidelines, Canadian Family Physician, Volume 64(4), April 2018.

Clinical leads

Dr. Valerie Temple (C. Psych.), Clinical Psychologist and Professional Practice Leader, works with individuals and families in Toronto, as well as those living in remote communities in northwestern Ontario through Surrey Place’s MMW Videoconferencing program. Dr. Temple has published research papers and book chapters on the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of a variety of intellectual and developmental disabilities including Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), Down Syndrome, and Autism.

headshot of Valerie Temple

Bruce Edwards (MHSc, Reg. CASLPO), Speech-Language Pathologist, has worked with adults with developmental disabilities at Surrey Place, Toronto for 15 years. He has been part of Ontario’s first adult FASD Diagnostic Clinic team since its formation in 2007.

headshot of Bruce Edwards

This is an update to a previous version of this tool, published as Adaptive Functioning & Communication Associated with Different Level of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities In: Sullivan WF, Developmental Disabilities Primary Care Initiative Scientific and Editorial Staff, editors. Tools for the primary care of people with developmental disabilities. Toronto: MUMS Guideline Clearing House; 2011, p.6-7.

  • Supporting materials
    • Understanding special voices

      The video Understanding Special Voices offers glimpses into the lives of five people with intellectual and developmental disabilities who communicate uniquely. Those who know them intimately help us to understand their distinct personalities and ways of expressing themselves beyond words. Listen to and learn from the Special Voices of Aziz, Chris, Lizzie, Diana, and Barton. Enjoy your eight minutes with them and your future encounters with people who have special voices. Video developed by the Curriculum of Caring, McMaster University, 2017 [8:10 minutes].

    • Practice tools

      Psychological Assessments: Frequently Asked Questions

      The tool Psychological Assessment in Intellectual and Developmental Disability: Frequently Asked Questions is an info sheet of commonly asked questions about obtaining a psychological assessment when there is a suspected or confirmed intellectual or developmental disability. Developed by the Developmental Disabilities Primary Care Program of Surrey Place, Toronto (2019).

    • Clinical Practice Guidelines

      This tool facilitates the implementation of the clinical practice guidelines Person-centered Approach to Care, Effective Communication and Capacity for Decision-Making, published in: Primary care of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities: 2018 Canadian consensus guidelines, Canadian Family Physician, Volume 64(4), April 2018.

  • Meet the team

    Clinical leads

    Dr. Valerie Temple (C. Psych.), Clinical Psychologist and Professional Practice Leader, works with individuals and families in Toronto, as well as those living in remote communities in northwestern Ontario through Surrey Place’s MMW Videoconferencing program. Dr. Temple has published research papers and book chapters on the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of a variety of intellectual and developmental disabilities including Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), Down Syndrome, and Autism.

    headshot of Valerie Temple

    Bruce Edwards (MHSc, Reg. CASLPO), Speech-Language Pathologist, has worked with adults with developmental disabilities at Surrey Place, Toronto for 15 years. He has been part of Ontario’s first adult FASD Diagnostic Clinic team since its formation in 2007.

    headshot of Bruce Edwards
  • Version history

    This is an update to a previous version of this tool, published as Adaptive Functioning & Communication Associated with Different Level of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities In: Sullivan WF, Developmental Disabilities Primary Care Initiative Scientific and Editorial Staff, editors. Tools for the primary care of people with developmental disabilities. Toronto: MUMS Guideline Clearing House; 2011, p.6-7.

All rights reserved. No part of this website may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the copyright owner, Surrey Place. Contact the Developmental Disabilities Primary Care Program at Surrey Place at ddpcp@surreyplace.ca for permission to adapt information and tools to your local practice setting.