Mental Retardation in Film: Radio
Main Actors: Cuba Gooding Jr., Ed Harris, Debra Winger

Year released: 2004

A mentally retarded young man, nicknamed "Radio" due to his love of radios (real name James Robert Kennedy; played by Cuba Gooding Jr.) is befriended by a high school football coach in Anderson, South Carolina, Harold Jones (played by Ed Harris), after some of the coach's star players play a mean trick on Radio and he rescues him from a storage shed where they have tied him up. At first, the young man is almost completely non-verbal and non-responsive, but little by little, as Radio comes to trust Coach Jones more, and Coach Jones takes him inside his office at the high school and even has him attending and participating in some of his regular classes, Radio becomes more verbal and more demonstrative. That football season, he helps out with the football team, most of whose….

Mental Retardation in Forrest Gump
Forrest Gump, a cheerful and good-hearted, but mentally retarded young man with a low IQ, fights in and survives the Vietnam War, and also meets with a variety of important people of his time (between the 1950's and the 1970's). By chance, Forrest actually helps, through some of these meetings to shape certain national events from the 1950's on. However, his own mental deficiencies make him unable to realize any of this. He experiences meetings with Elvis Presley, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, and Richard Nixon. He also comes to be seen by such people as representing his generation (the baby boomers.) Still, everything that happens to Forrest happens merely through a combination of his good attitude and his good luck.

Describe the relevance of the movie as it relates to persons with disabilities or exceptionalities:

I found the movie very touching and warm-hearted, especially when Forrest gets….

They very seldom become fully integrated into society or become independent. (Mental etardation: Free Health Encyclopedia)
6. Conclusion

The is little doubt that mental retardation has an effect on society in general and in terms of care and treatment of the affected person. However, it is also true that with the knowledge and expertise that has been accumulated about mental retardation it is also become more feasible to accommodate the mentally retarded person as a productive member of society.

My perception of the mentally retarded in society is that are less fortunate and that the mentally healthy members of society should help and assist these individuals wherever possible. The research for this paper has made me aware that we often categorize the mentally retarded in a general way without realizing that there are different categories and degrees of retardation. Cognizance should be taken of the fact that many people who are mentally….

Jones relates that statement of Corrigan: "Our work suggests that the biggest factor changing stigma is contact between people with mental illness and the rest of the population. The public needs to understand that many people with mental illness are functioning, fully contributing members of society." (Jones, 2006) Jones states that "the social cost of stigma associated with mental illness is high because it translates into huge numbers of people with treatable mental illness not getting help." Jones relates the fact that the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) is a group of advocates that works toward fighting the "inaccurate, hurtful representations of mental illness" that are found in the media. Jang (2002) states that the National Health Law Program has a priority to access of healthcare. In fact, the Executive Order (EO 13166) was focused toward the implementation of guidelines in overcoming the language barriers. Jang states that….

Experts report improved interactions with peers, support for the parents to act as teachers at home, improved motivation for the child, and aiding the family in learning about other support available in the community (mmerman & Herson, 2000).
Medications may play a role if the child has other concerns such as D/HD or seizures (mmerman & Herson, 2000).

Inclusion with Mental Retardation

Educationally, some research suggests that students with mental retardation learn more in general education classes than in special education. Studies on inclusion aren't quite as clear. Students may benefit from inclusion when younger, but when older it may have more negative effects unless the non-handicapped students are supportive of the program (Turnbull et. al.). In addition to behavioral and socialization support, students need functional as well as academic skills. For instance, they should be taught how to use public transportation and information about handling money (Turnbull et. al.).

Inclusion will only….

mental retardation in relationship to developing learning programs.
Review relevant literature.

Developmental learning programs are based on the child's cognitive abilities and IQ range.

To begin, an individual is considered to have mental retardation based on the following three criteria: intellectual functioning level (IQ) is below 70-75; significant limitations exist in two or more adaptive skill areas; and the condition is present from childhood (defined as age 18 or less) (AAMR, 1992).

When considering the development of learning programs for the disabled, the following terms refer to the link between the child's IQ and their ability to learn basic skills.

The least severe form of retardation is mild with an IQ range of 52-68. Moderate refers to an IQ range of 35-40 and 50-55; severe is 20-25 and 35-40 and profound is below 20-25.

Individuals in these categories tend to learn at a slower rate, have a hard time combining skills and a difficult time….

Incidence, Diagnoses, Characteristics and Safety Considerations Involved in the Provision of Physical Education Activities to Students with Mental Retardation with Autism
An Examination of the Incidence, Diagnoses, Characteristics and Safety Considerations Involved in the Provision of Physical Education Activities to Students with Mental Retardation ith and ithout Autism

To excuse students from physical education is the safe way out, but it does not meet their needs since it becomes costly to them in the long run. The inference here is not to say that physical educators advocate placing children in a program of physical education which will aggravate an injury, cause frustration, or to make him do things which are beyond their ability. -- Nancy Allison Close, Donald K. Matthews, 1973

This paper provides an overview of what physical education (PE) teachers should consider when developing activities and lesson plans for students with the cognitive and physical constraints associated with mental retardation….

Because of the lack of clarity and certainty regarding mental retardation or intellectual disability, the effect of having students with this issue in a classroom can be somewhat more chaotic than with other developmental disorders, where specific modes of instruction have been developed. It can be difficult to predict what a student with mental retardation might be stimulated by, and there are certain areas where individual students might simply have no interest. This can make it incredibly hard to involve them in classroom activities even when special accommodations and attempts are made. Students with mental retardation are not especially disruptive, and do not tend to make learning difficult for others, but this actually runs a greater risk of their going ignored as the classroom's education develops and progresses. For this reason, specific and repeated attempts to engage students with mental retardation in every aspect of the classroom and its activities….

Similarly, Michigan University online indicates that a person with mental retardation has the right to an Individual Education Plan (IEP) which includes the following.

A educational objectives, class placements, plan for checking progress, any other special services such as transportation or therapy

The laws on special education for individuals with disabilities, including mental retardation, are implemented by every state in the U.S., as well as in other nations, as part of government and community programs to promote equal human rights. Many schools on special education were established having the laws written in IDEA as the major basis of their operation. Moreover, the special education laws are implemented with the help of funding from the government. In the United States, a state that receives special education funding from the government is required to provide FAPE. To further improve the implementation of the laws on special education, workshops, researches, and studies, are continuously being….

Vocational training can help place within the adolescent mind the strategies they will need to adapt to life as an adult.
Further research is needed within the field of adolescents with the condition. According to research, "Unfortunately, most psychiatrists are ill-equipped to handle this situation, having received little or no formal training in this area," (Sebastian 2008). Therefore, more research can only open up new information to psychiatrists and physicians who work with families to make the most comfortable life for the adolescent dealing with mental retardation.

eferences

Biasini, Fred J.; Grupe, Lisa; Huffman, Lisa; & Bray, Norman W. (2010). Mental retardation: A symptom and a syndrome. Comprehensive Textbook of Child and Adolescent Disorders. New York: Oxford University Press. etrieved March 10, 2010 from http://www.uab.edu/cogdev/mentreta.htm

Collins, H. (2004). Children who are mentally retarded. American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. etrieved March 10, 2010 from http://www.aacap.org/cs/root/facts_for_families/children_who_are_mentally_retarded

Daigneault, obert. (2007). Mental retardation / adolescent issues….

The severity of mental retardation covers a wide spectrum, as discussed before, and variation in ability of individuals within this spectrum is wide (Tammi, 2006). In order to understand and to assist such persons, it is important to know the category in which they fall and the possible causes of the condition. In most cases, a little psychological instability leads to a mental retardation and therefore psychological interventions can be very effective in solving such cases. The notion of viewing mental retardation as a case of pure medical condition should be changed in order to find means of reducing such situations.
eferences

Christopher D. Prater, MD. (2006, June 15). Medical Care of Adults with Mental etardation.

etrieved March 11, 2010, from American Family Physician: http://www.aafp.org/afp/2006/0615/p2175.html

Donna K. Daily, MD. (2000, February 15). Identification and Evaluation of Mental etardation.

etrieved March 11, 2010, from American Family Physician: http://www.aafp.org/afp/20000215/1059.html

Gotiesrnati, .L. (s.f.). Facts About Mental etardation. etrieved….

detection and intervention in childhood mental health help prevent mental health problems in adult life?
Disregarding the mental well-being requirements of children is an intolerable violation of our basic undertaking to protect their well-being. Unfavorable mental disposition amidst our children is a less acknowledged difficulty that influences their literary, societal, and emotional enhancement. Mental well-being is a wide attribute to be analyzed. The mental well-being requirements of children and youth demand introspection. There is prevalent refuting that mental well-being is comprehensive of the influence on the children -- amidst all age distinct ions, variety of cultural sections, and all income sections. Such miscomprehensions are recurring, and involvement and care are unlikely to be found. Many people have the belief that children having mental well-being difficulties are just under the impact of a particular passing cloud. (Promoting Access for Children to Mental Health Screens and Assessments in Medicaid and the Children's….

Nature of Cognition
Ever since Simon and inet developed the first intelligence test in 1905, the field of psychology has maintained a strong interest in the nature of intelligence. How do we think? Why are some people better problem solvers than others? What is cognition, the ability to think about our environment? Why are some people consistently more able to use their brains to think, to remember, and to problem-solve than others?

The first IQ tests were devised to determine which children were mentally retarded. These children were pulled away from mainstream education. However, the tests did an effective job of predicting school success for all students, and their use was broadened (Sternberg, 1999). Multiple tests were developed to measure cognition, which might be defined as the ability to think abstractly. Markman (2001) described it in this way:

Cognition depends on the ability to imagine or represent objects and events that are not….

Ebert's quibble was not with the portrayal of mental retardation per se as being inaccurate but was more in line with the fact that the film suggested that mental retardation was cute and charming, such as the scene where Carla's boyfriend gets drunk, or where Carla tries to figure out sex from reading The Joy of Sex. The real confusions and strains that can afflict a mentally retarded person, and the fact that a mentally retarded person is not necessarily morally saintly or quaint and childlike in the eyes of the world goes unheralded by the film, Ebert suggests.

Does this have any impact upon assessing the film from a clinician's perspective? To some extent it does, because the film suggests that retarded persons are 'just like other people' and families are to blame for any assessment of their children's limitations. The parents are seen as unfairly judgmental of their child's….

Schizophrenia
While all mental illnesses continue to carry some sort of stigma, perhaps no mental illness is more widely misunderstood than schizophrenia. In fact, prior to the introduction of some of the more modern medications, it was virtually impossible to live a normal life if one had a diagnosis of schizophrenia. The complex interplay of symptoms experienced by most schizophrenics lent those patients the classic air of madness. Moreover, the combination of hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thought contributed to the air of dangerousness (see APA, 2000). While the mentally ill, as a whole, are no more dangerous to themselves or others than the general population, the reality is that an individual with schizophrenia could be much more dangerous than the population as a whole. Moreover, there was no standard treatment of the patient with schizophrenia. Schizophrenia crosses all races and cultures, so that a wide variety of cultural treatments contributed….

Outline of the Potential Risks and Challenges Associated with Teenage Pregnancy

I. Physical Risks to the Mother
A. Preterm labor and premature birth
B. Low birth weight babies
C. Gestational diabetes
D. Preeclampsia and eclampsia
E. Postpartum hemorrhage
F. Cesarean delivery

II. Physical Risks to the Baby
A. Prematurity and its associated health problems
B. Low birth weight and its associated health problems
C. Cerebral palsy
D. Mental retardation
E. Respiratory distress syndrome
F. Jaundice

III. Social and Emotional Risks to the Mother
A. Dropping out of school
B. Poverty
C. Homelessness
D. Child abuse and neglect
E. Mental health problems
F. Relationship....