The International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IASSIDD) is the first and only world-wide group dedicated to the scientific study of intellectual disability.
Founded in 1964 as the International Association for the Scientific Study of Mental Deficiency, IASSIDD is an international, interdisciplinary and scientific non-governmental organization which promotes worldwide research and exchange of information on intellectual disabilities.
OUR VISION
A world where people with intellectual and developmental disabilities live fulfilling and healthy lives, as valued members of their communities, and where they experience the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms as articulated in United Nations conventions.
OUR MISSION
To promote the development of new knowledge, research and other scholarly activities, as well as the application of knowledge, to improve the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, their families and those who support them.
OUR VALUES
- Respect for the inherent dignity of all people regardless of disability, age, gender and ethnicity
- Openness and tolerance for differences in people, practices and cultures
- The right of persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities, their families, advocates and communities to contribute to the research agenda, research processes, and to have access to research findings in a meaningful way
- The importance of scientific integrity and methodological rigour in research, within an ethical framework
- The importance of policy, practice and education being informed by scientific evidence
OUR AIMS
- Enable international collaboration and leadership in research
- Encourage a perspective that takes into account the interests, human rights and fundamental freedoms of persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities, their families and those who support them throughout the world.
- Stimulate high quality and innovative research encompassing interdisciplinary interests and methodological diversity.
- Engage in worldwide exchange of evidence-based knowledge with relevant stakeholders. This activity includes, but is not limited to, the organisation of congresses, conferences, roundtables, and workshops, and the publication of journals, a website and newsletters.
Latest News
IASSIDD World Congress 2019
Glasgow is hosting the World Congress of the International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 2019 – come to Scotland to celebrate a Future4All. We expect to welcome over 1200 participants to Glasgow, from various professions and career levels, such as health and social workers, social care and educational practitioners, policy makers, family carers, academics and third sector organisations.
Glasgow is Scotland’s largest city, known as the “friendly city”, it is the gateway to the Scottish highlands and islands via the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond.
Colleen Adnams
President-Elect and IASSID 2019 Chair of the International Organising Committee
Sally-Ann Cooper and Andrew Jahoda
IASSIDD 2019 Co-chairs of the Local Organising Committee
Journals
Journal of Intellectual Disability Research (JIDR)
A reduced-rate subscription to JIDR is available to all IASSIDD members. To access the journal, log in as a member an the appropriate links will appear in the login area.
Editors: A.J. Holland and Sally-Anne Cooper
The Journal of Intellectual Disability Research is devoted exclusively to the scientific study of intellectual disability and publishes papers reporting original observations in this field. The subject matter is broad and includes, but is not restricted to, finding from biological, educational, genetic, medical, psychiatric, psychological and sociological studies, and ethical, philosophical, and legal contributions that increase knowledge on the treatment and prevention of intellectual disability and of associated impairments and disabilities, and/or inform public policy and practice. Expert reviews on themes in which recent research has produced notable advances will be included. Such reviews will normally be by invitation. Anyone expert in his/her particular field wishing to submit an uninvited review is advised to seek prior guidance from the editor. The journal also includes brief reports, occasional letters, and an ‘Hypothesis’ section. All papers are assessed by expert referees.
For more information about JIDR, including author guidelines and submission information visit us at wiley.com.
Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities
IASSIDD publishes JPPID, an international, peer-reviewed journal produced in conjunction with Wiley-Blackwell Publishing and the Tosinvest Sanità Organization of Italy. JPPID is peer-reviewed and published online four times a year. It is designed to provide a forum for description of evidence-based policy and practice related to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. JPPID compliments IASSIDD’s other publication, the Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, which is also published by Wiley-Blackwell Publishing, but is owned by the MENCAP organization in the United Kingdom.
JPPID focuses on policy development, service design, working methods and treatment procedures, financial, administrative and legal frameworks, and approaches to service-user empowerment which are informed by research. Articles include those that report research, analyses, reviews, theoretical constructs, and other work exploring both tested ideas in policy and practice and possible future directions. IASSIDD has opted to include policy and practice analyses that provide a framework for ideas and information that can readily translate into situations other than the author’s own country. JPPID also publishes brief reports of practice experiences documented by evidence-based research or data-based outcomes. In addition, JPPID publishes briefs or abstracts that translate and comment on work previously published in non-English journals, announcements of relevance to IASSIDD members, and reviews of relevant publications.
A subscription to JPPID is included as part of a regular IASSIDD Individual membership. To access the journal, log in as a member and the appropriate links will appear in the login area.
Editors: Rhonda Faragher and Laurence Taggart
The Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities has been accepted by ISI for coverage in their Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI). Journal content has been loaded back to the 2008 volume, Volume 5, and therefore we expect the first impact factor for 2010 to be released later in 2011.
Special Interest Research Groups
Special Interest Research Groups provide opportunities for international and multidisciplinary networking among members of IASSIDD within the same area of interest, creating opportunities to share information, develop initiatives, find new colleagues and increase visibility to newcomers in the field. Through SIRGs, members may easily cooperate on common themes of interests.
IASSIDD supports ten SIRGs. They are:
- Aging and Intellectual Disability
- Autism Spectrum Disorders
- Challenging Behaviour and Mental Health
- Comparative Policy and Practice
- Down Syndrome
- Ethics & Intellectual Disability
- Families
- Health Issues
- Inclusive Education
- Parenting with Intellectual Disability
- Profound Intellectual and Multiple Disabilities
- Quality of Life
To learn more about these SIRGs, follow the links on this page.
IASSIDD encourages members to develop further SIRGs. If you are interested in developing a new SIRG, please see the IASSIDD bylaws, Article III: Special Interest Research Groups and contact the VP of SIRG Coordination.
Membership Membership in up to 5 SIRGs is included in a full IASSIDD membership. To join, simply check the names of the SIRGs you would like to join at the time of membership renewal or contact [email protected].