Ask Mike - Is my husband's sister mentally challenged?

Dear Seeker of Information,

It is unclear what you mean by "mentally challenged". I will assume that you are referring to a person with a mental health disability and/or someone with a cognitive or intellectual disability. People with these types of disabilities are sometimes referred to as "developmentally disabled" or "DD". In any case, since it seems that it is unclear whether your sister-in-law has a disability and/or what type of disability she might have, she will likely need to get tested. There are many types of tests used to determine intellectual and cognitive functioning. A commonly used test is called "neuropsychological evaluation".

An easy way to start getting the information you want is to have a look on our State Agencies related to PAS web page, being sure to select California.

You will notice that "Medicaid Agency" and "Mental Health Services" are right at the top of the listing of agencies. These would both be good places to start asking your questions and they should be able to help direct you to local resources. Another possibility is a center for independent living (CIL) to be found in the same listing. If there is a CIL in your area, you might be able to get referrals for further assistance.

Another avenue you could explore would be to go a phone book and look under "disabled persons" or "disabled services organizations" and if any community DD or mental health centers are listed.

Best of luck to you.

Mike Oxford