Is “developmentally delayed” the same as “Mentally retarded?”?
I am a special education teacher in Michigan. I suggest looking up the definitions in the DSM-IV manual. Unless your child was diagnosed by doctors as being cognitively impaired (new name for mentally retarded) then she will not be labeled that. The term mentally retarded should not be used anymore. The name was changed under IDEA 97. I think it was an addendum. She is most likely developmentally delayed and all that means is that she is behind other students her age with reaching certain milestones at certain times. With early intervention at a young age, she could catch up to same age kids. If they are treating her like a child with cognitive impairments, then she isn’t being taught like she should be. She should have high expectations put on her. Also, if she is labeled, she needs an IEP. Within an IEP there are goals and objectives that both the teachers and parents have to agree upon. Those goals and objectives are specific focus areas that the teachers should be focusing on. Ther
