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The Impact of Rosa's Law on Describing Persons with Intellectual Disability

Lutter, Andrea Elizabeth
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1398193968

Abstract Details

2014, Master of Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Genetic Counseling.
Terminology used to describe individuals with Intellectual Disability (ID) is confusing as numerous terms are used to describe this diagnosis. This study explored if Rosa's law, which states that "intellectual disability" should replace "mental retardation" in federal documentation, impacted terminology preferred by members of the National Society of Genetic Counselors (n=310) and parents of individuals with ID from the Genetic Alliance (n=88). Responding to on-line surveys, most genetic counselors (66.3%) preferred ID whereas parents (40.3%) preferred developmental delay (p<0.001). Genetic counselors chose ID as their most preferred term, but only 30% reported awareness of Rosa's law. Interestingly, of the 31 parents who reported awareness of Rosa's law, only 13% preferred ID. No correlation between awareness of Rosa's law and preferred terminology was found. While there was no consensus as to which term best described individuals with ID, identifying a unifying term may be beneficial in preventing confusion and clarifying diagnoses.
Anne Matthews, RN, PhD (Committee Chair)
Suzanne DeBrosse, MD (Committee Member)
Duane Culler, MS, PhD, CGC, LSW (Committee Member)
154 p.
Genetics
Intellectual disability; mental retardation; Rosas law; genetic counselors; parents

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Lutter, A. E. (2014). The Impact of Rosa's Law on Describing Persons with Intellectual Disability [Master's thesis, Case Western Reserve University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1398193968

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Lutter, Andrea. The Impact of Rosa's Law on Describing Persons with Intellectual Disability. 2014. Case Western Reserve University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1398193968.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Lutter, Andrea. "The Impact of Rosa's Law on Describing Persons with Intellectual Disability." Master's thesis, Case Western Reserve University, 2014. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1398193968

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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This open access ETD is published by Case Western Reserve University School of Graduate Studies and OhioLINK.