While studying the history of intellectual disabilities, questions arise as to which extent the terminology coincides with todays concept of intellectual disabilities and how credible the existing documents and scientific works are. Due to the fact that they were not written by historians and that there are frequent errors that are presented as true facts due to secondary referencing. Throughout history, people with intellectual disabilities have been killed, used as slaves, pets and for entertainment purposes at freak shows. They were forcibly institutionalized, and the medical treatments were dehumanizing. They were sterilized and were victims of the eugenics movement. In the middle of the last century, there was an improvement in the position and development of the independent living movement and the philosophy of inclusion. Even tough people with intellectual disabilities are still on the margins of our society today. The quality of their life is further impaired during the pandemic period when their fundamental rights and freedoms are taken away. Social workers have a key role in advocating the rights of people with intellectual disabilities, and they must base their work on knowledge and the active involvement of the person with disabilities in the decision-making process. With all this, they must be aware of their competences and the importance of preserving mental health and creating good professional relationships in order to alleviate professional stress and the occurrence of burnout syndrome. The social policy of the Republic of Croatia faces the challenge of adopting measures that will improve the availability of extra-institutional services in the community, put deinstitutionalization into practice, and improve the overall social position of people with intellectual disabilities.