State-specific rates of mental retardation--United States, 1993.

Mental retardation (MR) is the most common developmental disability and ranks first among chronic conditions causing major activity limitations among persons in the United States (1). National and state-specific surveillance to measure the prevalence of MR can assist in targeting areas of need and allocating resources. State-specific prevalences for MR can be determined by using data about persons who receive specialized services for MR through entitlement programs. To estimate state-specific prevalences of MR in 1993, data were analyzed from the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) for children with MR who were enrolled in special education programs and from the Social Security Administration (SSA) for adults with MR. This report summarizes the findings, which suggest substantial state-specific variation in the prevalence of MR in the United States.