intellectual disability (id) is not a disease itself, rather it is a condition that is characterized by significant limitations in both intellectual functioning and adaptation in conceptual and practical skills (van schrojenstein lantman-de valk & walsh, 2008); though engaging in community living and social skills can also be affected (fisher, 2004). examples of adaptation skills include communication, self-care, and self-direction. diagnosing the presence of id is usually conducted by a psychologist using established criteria including having an intelligence quotient (iq) score of 70 or below, with an onset of the condition before the age of 18 (apa, 1994). there are a number of terms that have been used by healthcare professionals to define intellectual disability. the term “mental retardation”, though still used within the international classification of diseases (icd-10), is currently considered unacceptable by most (world health organization, 2001), the term intellectual disability (id) is generally preferred, and will be used in this paper,