On June 11, 2001, Harris County's Commissioners Court created the Mental Retardation Needs Council (MRNC) to assess services currently available to clients, identify gaps in services and to advise Commissioners Court on issues related to mental retardation and related developmental disorders. The MRNC is a consortium of organizations within Harris County dedicated to:

• Promoting the services and supports necessary for improving the lives of persons with mental retardation and related developmental disorders.
• Ensuring their fullest possible participation in community life.
• Bringing together the stakeholders so that their efforts will be unified, coordinated, focused, and more effective.
• Identifying community problems and recommending solutions, which encompass this vision.

Mental retardation is characterized both by a significantly below-average score on a test of mental ability or intelligence and by limitations in the ability to function in areas of daily life, such as communication, self-care, and getting along in social situations and school activities. Mental retardation is sometimes referred to as a cognitive or intellectual disability.

Children with mental retardation can and do learn new skills, but they develop more slowly than children with average intelligence and adaptive skills. There are different degrees of mental retardation, ranging from mild to profound. A person's level of mental retardation can be defined by their intelligence quotient (IQ), or by the types and amount of support they need.

People with mental retardation may have other disabilities as well. Examples of these coexisting conditions include cerebral palsy, seizure disorders, vision impairment, hearing loss, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Children with severe mental retardation are more likely to have additional disabilities than are children with mild mental retardation.

Mental retardation can occur at anytime before a child reaches the age of 18 years old. It can happen before the child is born or during childhood. Causes of mental retardation include injury, disease, or a brain abnormality. For many children, the cause of their mental retardation may never be known. Some of the most common known causes of mental retardation that occur before a child is born are fetal alcohol syndrome, Down syndrome, and fragile X syndrome. Other conditions that affect an unborn child include genetic abnormalities, infections, or birth defects that affect the brain (such as hydrocephalus). Other causes of mental retardation (such as asphyxia) happen while a baby is being born or soon after birth. Still other causes of mental retardation do not happen until a child is older. These may include serious head injury, stroke, or certain infections such as meningitis.

Some metabolic conditions, such as phenylketonuria (PKU), galactosemia, and congenital hypothyroidism, can cause mental retardation and other problems if babies with these conditions do not begin treatment soon after birth. Parents and doctors can find out if a child has one of these conditions through a simple blood test or heel prick. Newborns in the United States are tested soon after birth, but different states test for different conditions. Parents can request that their baby be tested for all conditions that have tests. Children that do have these conditions are usually treated with medicine or put on a special diet. If the correct treatment is started soon enough after the child is born and continues as long as needed, the child will not have mental retardation.

Major Causes of Mental Retardation:

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is the leading known cause of mental retardation occurring in 2.2:1000 births. FAS is a lifelong yet completely preventable set of physical, mental and neurobehavioral birth defects associated with alcohol consumption during pregnancy. Individuals with FAS have a distinct pattern of facial abnormalities, growth deficiency and evidence of central nervous system dysfunction. In addition to mental retardation, individuals may have other neurological deficits such as poor motor skills and poor hand-eye coordination. They may also have a complex pattern of behavioral and learning problems, including difficulties with memory, attention and judgment.

Alcohol-Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder (ARND) describes the functional or mental impairments linked to prenatal alcohol exposure that does not always result in FAS - although there is no known safe level of alcohol consumption during pregnancy. Most individuals affected by alcohol exposure before birth do not have the characteristic facial abnormalities and growth retardation identified with FAS, yet they have brain and other impairments that are just as significant. They may also have a complex pattern of behavioral and learning problems, including difficulties with memory, attention and judgment. It is estimated that ARND occurs three times as often as Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.

Down Syndrome is the second leading cause of mental retardation. Down syndrome is the most common and readily identifiable chromosomal condition associated with mental retardation. Down syndrome is a chromosomal disorder, characterized by the presence of an extra # 21 chromosome. Instead of having 46 chromosomes in each of his/her cells, a person with Down syndrome has 47. This extra chromosome changes the orderly development of the body and brain. In most cases, the diagnosis of Down syndrome is made according to results from a chromosome test administered shortly after birth. Down syndrome occurs in about 1 in every 800 to 1,000 live births. Although parents of any age may have child with Down syndrome, the incidence is higher for women over 35. Most common forms of the syndrome do not usually occur more than once in a family.

According to test standards and studies about 2.7% of the Texas population falls at or below an IQ score of 70. For evaluation of their needs for services, persons with mental retardation can be divided into three groups, mild, moderate and severe/profound.

Persons within the mild range of mental retardation comprise about 2.34% of the total population. Persons within the moderate range of mental retardation comprise about 0.28% of the population. Persons within the severe and profound ranges of mental retardation comprise about 0.11% of the population.

Based on national research on school-based and identified service populations, TDMHMR estimates that while most persons with moderate, severe or profound mental retardation have needs for services, only about a third of persons with mild mental retardation are likely to have service needs. Most of these service needs for persons with mild levels of mental retardation are for education, vocational and skills training or are due to complications in addition to their mental retardation status, such as medical or behavioral difficulties.

Source: Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2003 - 2007, page 85."

Talk with your pediatrician about any concerns you have.

Mental Retardation is diagnosed through the use of standardized tests of intelligence and adaptive skills usually administered by a psychologist. Check with your insurance carrier for a list of psychologists covered by your plan.

Autism spectrum disorders are also diagnosed through the use of standardized tests.

The diagnosis of a developmental disability will probably be confirmed by a specialist or a team of specialists. Begin with your pediatrician, a developmental pediatrician or a child psychiatrist.

Some children have a combination of disabilities that could include mental, physical, learning or emotional problems. This is often referred to as a dual diagnosis. In a situation like this you will want to find several health care professionals who will share information with one another for the best assessment and care of your child.

Local resources you can consider if you want your child to have an assessment for mental retardation or a developmental disability include:

• University of Texas-Houston, Mental Sciences Institute, Child and Adolescent Clinic (713) 500-2525
• Texas Children’s Hospital, The Learning Support Center (832) 822-3719

Never be afraid to ask for a second opinion.

The internet, books, and workshops all provide opportunities for you to learn more. Take your time sifting through all the information available. You can begin with this site. Go to the section entitled MRNC Related Links to find a sub-section called Advocacy and Specific Disability Organizations.

The Arc of Greater Houston ( www.thearcofgreaterhouston.com) has a Resource Guide you can down load with links to other web sites, local and state resources and a listing of local schools for children with disabilities.

Another web site, the Arc Link ( www.thearclink.org) can help you navigate “the system” including social security benefits, insurance, education, legal services and much more. Find the Select a State menu and go to Texas. At the top of this page, choose Know the System and on that page go to How the System Works.

Parents as Case Managers, (281) 955-5803, holds trainings for parents on all sorts of disability issues from education to SSI to guardianship and social service agencies. It is also a great place to meet other parents raising children with special needs.

Work closely with your child’s teachers, school counselor, principal and the school diagnostician. Include your child’s therapists or doctors if you think that would be helpful. Once you all have determined the cause of your child’s problems you can consider the options available to you under the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) and Section 504 (of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973). These options range from accommodations, such as extra time for test taking, to a special classroom or adaptive technology.

Advocacy, Inc., 1-(800) 252-9108, ( www.advocacyinc.org) is a good source for downloadable publications including the parent manual on Special Education Rights and Responsibilities, a “must have” resource for parents of children needing special services at school.

The Arc of Greater Houston, www.thearcofgreaterhouston.com, (713) 957-1600, sponsors the Right to Learn Program for students with all types of disabilities and their families. This program has trainings related to special education and parent support groups in English and Spanish.

MHMRA, Mental Health Mental Retardation Authority of Harris County, ( www.mhmraofharriscounty.org) has a Transition Services program to help make the transition from school to work or community based programs smooth. Beginning at age 14, students or their families can request these services, which include planning vocational training.

Friendships, leisure time and physical activity can all be challenges as children with special needs get older. Find out if your local scout group can accommodate special needs. Consider Special Olympics for children age 6 and older ( www.specialolympicstexas.org). The Arc of Greater Houston has several recreational programs for children with all kinds of disabilities including the Candy Cane Ball for individuals ready for a dress-up experience. Contact Region IV Education Service Center, www.esc4.net, (713) 462-7708, for their directory of Texas summer camps and programs for individuals with special needs.

Encourage any special interest or talent your child has. Crafts are a good way to fill free time and develop self esteem. Consider a visit to a museum, baseball game or comedy club with peers to provide companionship and an opportunity to learn and practice good social skills.