Health Care for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities across the Lifespan

Book excerpt: This book provides a broad overview of quality health care for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). It focuses on providing the reader a practical approach to dealing with the health and well-being of people with IDD in general terms as well as in dealing with specific conditions. In addition, it offers the reader a perspective from many different points of view in the health care delivery system as well as in different parts of the world. This is the 3rd , and much expanded edition, of a text that was first published in 1989 (Lea and Fibiger). The second edition was published in 2006 (Paul Brookes) and has been used as a formal required text in training programs for physicians, nurses and nurse practitioners as well as by administrators who are responsible for programs serving people with IDD. This book is considered the “Bible” in the field of health care for people with IDD since 1989 when the first edition came out.