Mapping Future Research in Disabilities-Research Initiatives in Intellectual Disabilities in India: Report of a National Interdisciplinary Meeting

A meeting organized under the auspices of the International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual Disabilities (IASSID) Academy on Education, Teaching and Research was held in March 2011 at the India International Centre in New Delhi, India, with the explicit purpose of helping establish a road map for future research in intellectual disabilities (ID) in India and to forge alliances among like-minded researchers and practitioners to move forward on countrywide research. The participants were drawn from nongovernmental and governmental groups, private consultancies, psychology, researchers, and policymakers, and they were interested in research dissemination, research methodologies, and research ethics. The participants developed a framework for research strategies and defined important areas for further research in ID for India. Based on the discussions, the following research strategy areas were identified: prevalence studies, human ethics, human rights, prevention, interventions, research syntheses of existing research that has been conducted in India, dissemination of existing research, building research capacity, and disaster preparedness. As each priority area required further discussion and feedback, agreement was achieved that such further discussions and collaborations would follow. The follow-up is a process which involves the simultaneous and synergistic development of policies and practices at the application and governmental levels.