Paper Summary:

This paper describes the work of the American Association on Mental Deficiency (AAMD) especially in their development of a system to classify categories of mental retardation. The process of assessing students with special needs continues to change as society learn more about learning disabilities; however, the author relates, there are specific steps for assessing these students. The paper concludes with a discussion of Jean Piaget's developmental theories and of Richard Lynn's ideas about around whether or not "race" is a meaningful biological construct.

From the Paper:

"The classification system was published in 1921 and revised in the years 1933, 1941, 1957, 1959, 1973, 1977, and 1983. The 1983 system was supposed to reflect current thinking on the topic worldwide. The purpose of this classification system is to gather and disseminate information regarding diagnosis, treatment, and research activities. Another purpose was to provide opportunities for the identification of causes of mental retardation with implications for prevention."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Lynn, Richard. Race Differences in Intelligence. Washington Summit Publishers. March30, 2006.
• Lynn, Richard. Eugenics: A Reassessment. Praeger Publishers; 1 edition. June 30, 2001.
• Lynn, Richard. Dysgenics: Genetic Deterioration in Modern Populations. Praeger Publishers. December 1996.
• Overton, Terry. Assessing Learners with Special Needs: An Applied Approach. PrenticeHall. May 13, 2008.
• Piaget, Jean. The Origins of Intelligence in Children. New York. W.W. Norton &Company, Inc. 1936. 1963.

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