While there’s a large amount of knowledge about Intellectual Disability available, there is equally a large amount of wrong information present in our community.
At Best Buddies we pride ourselves on challenging some of these myths and replacing them with facts. Please, should you come across anything you thing should be included, please contact us.
Myth 1: People who have an intellectual disability are unable to learn and make decisions about their own lives.
Nothing could be further from the truth. People who have an ID, are very capable of learning, indeed many people with an ID go on to obtain high level educational qualifications. What is of interest is how we educate people who have an intellectual disability.
Our ability to make decisions is usually based on our capacity to function and communicate. The vast majority of people who have an ID make decisions every day. It’s important to recognise that just because someone may not be able to make a decision about one aspect of their life, this does not mean that they can’t make decisions about other aspects of their own lives.
Myth 2: People who have an intellectual disability are unaware that they have one.
When Best Buddies asked this question to some of our Buddies, the response ranged from having a detailed understanding and insight into their own disability to one participant stating that while she had a disability she didn’t think of it as one. This person said that she prefers to think about what she can do and what she needs help with.
Myth 3: People with an intellectual disability can’t have relationships, nor have children.
Many people who have an ID have wonderful and meaningful relationships. Many have children. It’s important to not make judgements about a person’s capacity to form a relationship. It’s equally important to confuse a person’s ability to parent effectively.
