Attending to the health needs of people with intellectual disability: quality standards

People with intellectual disabilities remain among the mostvulnerable members of society and often face many barriersto healthcare. They experience major health problems andrisks yet pay a ´disability penalty´, the result of social exclusion,discrimination and isolation. If public health strategies are toaddress the physical and mental health needs of people withintellectual disabilities, attention needs to be given to theirparticular health profile. Health targets, quality standardsand outcome measures must attend to their needs, for themeasure of civilisation is how well we treat those who aredeemed more vulnerable and less able in society. This articlehighlights how these issues are being addressed in ´westernised´countries and some of the dilemmas and challengesfaced by health care organisations.