Intellectual and Development Disabilities Plain Language Introduction

In June 2025 APHA released a new version of the primer on intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD): “Getting People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities What They Need, A Plain-Language Introduction for Public Health Workers.”

This introduction helps public health workers better understand how to get people with IDD what they need and includes 4 parts, to access the table of contents click any of the sections below: 

Part 1: Background...........................................................................................................................4

Part 2: What problems do people with IDD have in getting what they need to be healthy?......9

Part 3: How do social causes of health problems affect people with IDD?................................14

Part 4: Helpful strategies and resources to support people with IDD........................................22