A brief history of the International Association for the Scientific Study of Mental Deficiency (IASSMD)

The foundation of any scientific organisation is linked not only with developments within its particular disciplines, but also reflects the social and political influences preceding and surrounding its initiation. Therefore, in outlining the history of IASSID, it may be useful to sketch some of the factors which played a part in leading to its eventual formation. Of course, international scicntific organisations only follow after major national developments have occurred and for the IASSID, this was especially evident from developments in the USA, the United Kingdom and the Scandinavian countries. In the first these, for example. the American Association on Mental Deficiency had existed since 1876. and had hecomce very powerful (Sloan & Stevens, 1976).