A Holistic Theoretical Approach to Intellectual Disability: Going Beyond the Four Current Perspectives

This article describes a holistic theoretical framework that can be used to explain intellectual disability (ID) and organize relevant information into a usable roadmap to guide understanding and application. Developing the framework involved analyzing the four current perspectives on ID and synthesizing this information into a holistic theoretical framework. Practices consistent with the framework are described, and examples are provided of how multiple stakeholders can apply the framework. The article concludes with a discussion of the advantages and implications of a holistic theoretical approach to ID.