Intellectual disability

Intellectual disability services are intended for individuals with an intellectual disability or global developmental delay who reside in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region.

An intellectual disability is characterized by significant limitations in intellectual functioning and adaptive behaviour, which affect conceptual, social and practical skills, and appear before the age of 18.

Services offered for intellectual disability

Services are provided for individuals with intellectual disabilities to support them in the short, medium and long term according to their level of impairment, and to help maintain their functional abilities. Long-term support includes family assistance as well as support for the individual through assistive devices or personal care (e.g., hygiene assistance, support for self-determination).

Services aim to:

  • foster the development of skills;
  • reduce physical and social barriers for a full life;
  • teach new strategies to adapt to the situation;
  • prevent deterioration or maintain the level of functional and social autonomy achieved through support from our teams.
     

Objectives of services for intellectual disability

Focused on skills development and social participation, these services meet the daily needs of the user, their family and loved ones.  

  • Needs assessment
  • Analysis of factors that may explain the person’s situation
  • Recommendations and implementation of an intervention plan
  • Support and accompaniment for partners to achieve the objectives of the intervention plan
  • Psychosocial support
     

If needed, individuals will be referred to complementary resources from schools, professional services, community organizations and others.

For children

These services are intended for children diagnosed with an intellectual disability. Children under 7 with significant developmental delays are also included. These children follow a service pathway provided by a team that includes professionals from both the intellectual disability rehabilitation sector and the Programme de réadaptation en déficience motrice enfant (pediatric motor disability rehabilitation program).


For adolescents

These services are intended for youth diagnosed with an intellectual disability. Adolescence is a period when independence, social activities and emotional development become increasingly important.

These services aim to support:

  • the development of the adolescent’s skills; 
  • environmental adaptations to facilitate functioning (e.g., communication support, visual cues, task adjustments); 
  • the development of strategies tailored to the adolescent’s characteristics that will be used by family and those around them.
     

For adults

Adulthood is an important period, often accompanied by questions about identity, future goals (education, work, leisure), and living arrangements. While the transition to adulthood begins in adolescence, adults with an intellectual disability may need support to make choices and participate socially.

The mission of these services is to improve social participation by enabling individuals to perform daily activities at home, in the community and at work.  

This service aims to support:

  • the development of personal skills;
  • environmental adaptations to facilitate functioning (e.g., communication support, visual cues, task adjustments);
  • the development of strategies tailored to the person’s characteristics that will be used by family and those around them.
     

Individuals with an intellectual disability have access to schooling until age 21, even if they don’t pursue postsecondary studies. After this age, individuals may require services to integrate community activities or work-related activities. Upon request by the individual or their representative, the team can assess the person’s needs and guide them towards community integration services or work integration services.

If the individual with an intellectual disability exhibits challenging behaviours (e.g., anger, aggression), our teams have the expertise to support interventions aimed at preventing or reducing behavioural disorders or severe behavioural disorders.
 

How to access services

Intake, analysis, guidance, and referral services (AAOR) is the main entry point to the CISSS du Bas-Saint-Laurent for CLSC service requests. This service receives your request, reviews it, directs you to the appropriate service or refers you to the appropriate agency according to your needs. To access this service (in French).

 

Useful links for individuals with an intellectual disability and their loved ones