Intellectual disability traces its roots back to ancient civilizations. The Egyptians focused on treating disabilities and other ailments, while Greek and Roman Civilizations negatively viewed disability, killing those with disabilities. During the Middle Ages, intellectual disability revolved around religion and superstitions. The Church became a refuge for the individual with disabilities by providing shelter. The Restoration period associated “idiocy” and mental illness with immortality for which having a disability is a punishment. In the 17th century, John Locke differentiated intellectual disabilities from physical ones, where both mental and emotional deficits characterized intellectual disabilities. Oxford Philosopher Willis pinpointed various etiologies for a mental disability such as heredity, trauma, other diseases, and spirits. ^[1]

Previously, intellectual disability is known by the terms mental retardation that included the categories of an idiot, imbecile and moron. These terms are based on IQ test scores. In 2010, President Barack Obama signed Rosa’s law, which removed “mental retardation” and mentally retarded from federal use. This change was also implemented in the DSM5. ^[2]