The Arbitrariness of Age Ceilings in Developmental Services

Abstract

When determining eligibility for disability-related services, supports and protections, bureaucracies (schools, courts, adult service agencies, etc.) have a strong preference for clear-cut decision and eligibility rules [1]. An example of this would be IQ cut-offs (e.g., 70) for determining whether someone qualifies as having an Intellectual Disability (ID). The reason for this preference is obvious: bureaucrats and other decision-makers typically lack the time or training to deal with the complexity of individual situations.