Mental retardation is defined as a disorder in which the overall intellectual functioning of a person is well below average, he or she has a significantly impaired ability to cope with common life demands, and he or she lacks the daily living skills required of others within their same age group. Mental retardation is a particular state of functioning that begins in childhood and may interfere with one’s ability to learn, communicate, provide self-care, live independently, have meaningful social interactions, and be aware of one’s own safety (ARC, 2001). Mental retardation is neither a medical nor a mental disorder, but rather is a disorder defined by society that is based on a statistical concept and not on the qualities inherent in those who have the disorder. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-Fourth Edition (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 1997) lists four degrees of severity of mental retardation: mild, moderate, severe, and profound.