People with mental retardation show delays in learning, a slower pace of learning, and difficulty in applying learning. Approximately 200,000 people in New York are thought to have mental retardation. Mental retardation can result from a variety of factors, among them premature birth, genetic abnormalities, malnutrition, exposure to toxic agents, and social deprivation. Assistance for people with mental retardation usually includes diagnosis and help early in their life, family counseling and training, education, job training, and housing services.