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Intellectual Impairment

Intellectual Impairment Facts   

• Intellectual impairment refers to children with serious limitations in adjusting to a social environment.
• It is estimated that between 1% and 3% of the world’s population is intellectually impaired.
• Those affected with intellectual impairment are not only more numerous in developing countries, but face harsher consequences.

What is Intellectual Impairment?

Persons with intellectual impairment are usually unable to attend normal schools and obtain jobs easily. Often, cultural and social stigmas mark the intellectually impaired and exclude them from community and even family interactions.

Causes of intellectual impairment come from both one’s environment and one’s genes. Specialized education schools are rare in the developing world and children are often left on their own. Traditional cultural beliefs can also interfere with proper identification and treatment, further punishing the affected individuals. 

How CBM helps

Intellectual impairment is largely avoidable and thus CBM focuses on prevention. As an example, CBM programs around the world work to distribute iodized salt to prevent Iodine deficiency-induced intellectual impairment.  Similarly, there are program partners that work to educate expectant mothers on the threat of alcohol and smoking. In hospitals, CBM promotes better monitoring of births and oxygen supplies for newborn infants.  Rehabilitation efforts for the intellectually impaired include community-based early detection and intervention programs, education and occupational skills and training.

In the last year thousands of intellectually impaired individuals were touched by CBM’s work worldwide through integrated education programs, rehabilitation centers, resource centers and livelihood programs CBM is distributing opportunities for those previously held back by their disabilities.

Training and education of the intellectually impaired has sustainable results and benefits entire communities. It costs about $50 to train a specialized teacher or rehabilitation specialist.

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