Intellectual Disability (ID) and Pervasive Development Disorders (PDD)

What is an intellectual disability?

Intellectual disability is a generic term for a condition in which a person is incapable of coping with the challenges of daily life due to his or her limited intellectual abilities. 

What are PDDs?

Pervasive personality disorders (PDDs) are a category which includes autism, Asperger syndrome, PPD-NOS (NOS = not otherwise specified), Rett syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder (CDD) and atypical autism. Onset of a PDD occurs in the first years of a child's life.

Where to get help

The health and social service centres (CSSS) offer a range of services for people with an Intellectual disability or a PDD and their families and caregivers.

These include early stimulation for children aged 0 to 5 who are awaiting diagnosis or specialized rehabilitation, as well as psychosocial needs evaluations, individual and family support, respite-sitting services, needs evaluations and/or referral to specialized rehabilitation and appropriate resources. 

When specialized services are required, CSSS workers will refer people to a Centre de réadaptation en déficience intellectuelle et en troubles envahissants du développement (CRDI-TED). There are five such centres in Montréal. These centres provide adaptation and rehabilitation in addition to residential and community integration services. 

There may also be community-based services available for you. Ask someone at your CSSS.

Visit the CRDI-TED page.