The Verdict

I'm using Mark Selkowitz's book Down Syndrome The Facts to help here:
"People with IQs ranging from about 80-130 re considered to have normal intelligence.
An IQ of about 70 - 80 is regarded as demonstrating a borderline degree of intellectual impairment. Such peple usually manage in the normal stream, but have developed at between approximately 2/3rds to 4/5ths of the average rate of development.
Children and adults with an IQ score beow 70 are regarded as having an intellectual disability....t is therefore useful to describe intellectual disability according to its severity.
The following terms are usually used. In each case the eventual adult level of competence is described.
Mild intellectual disability
(IQ range from about 50 - 70) Adults with this degree of disability can usually live independently with little supervision.
Moderate intellectual disability
(IQ range from about 35-50) Adults with this degree of disability will need help with managing their financial affairs, and usually such activities as shopping, cooking and commuting.
Severe intellectual disability
(IQ range from 20 - 35)
Adults with this degree of disability always need a great deal of supervision, although this need not be constant, as many are able to care for themselves in matters such as dressing, eating, washing and toileting.
Profound intellectual disability
(IQ range below 20)
Adults with this degree of disability need constant care and supervision."
pp116-117

So Hannah clearly showed strength in her verbal reasoning skills - using words to solve problems - in some domains she scored in the 'borderline' category. Her non verbal reasoning (mathematical style deductions, puzzles etc) was not as strong and mostly scored in the mild range so that her overall IQ magic number (Which I don't know) falls in the mild intellectual disability group.

So overall it is great news - because it means that there is a lot of potential in her future - the ped says that clinically there is little movement between the ranges as the child grows older, if the first assessment feels 'right' and accurate - then there will probably be little or no change of statistical significance in later assessments.

The negative side of it all is as I feared. The psychologist was very good. She acknowledged Hannah's natural abilities, personality and talents as well as 'our efforts' and the EI Han has been receiving. The negative side of it is that yes - so much of what she can do is simply because of who she is but there is a heap that is a result of the help and therapies she has been receiving since she was 3 weeks old. The gov't slicing of the disability pie means that there will be minmal support and no targetted funding for Hannah - so I will have to watch anxiously to make sure that she can maintain her good performance with less support. I understand that there are others who require greater support - but an intellectual disability is just that and is different for each individual - targetted funding would help focus the type of support she could receive to best help her in the mainstream. Still I am not unhappy with today's results and will continue to lobby and advocate for the best for both my children as they prepare for the perilous quest into the mainstream next year...