Oh, not really.
Of course we all have to brush our teeth. It's important. What I am hoping is that we stop making toothbrushing a goal for people with intellectual disabilities to work on.
When a person with intellectual disabilities moves into a group home or attend day services for habilitation, they have to have goals to work on. These involve activities that the individual wants to do or a skill that they would benefit from. Data is collected on how well they are achieving their goal.
I don't think any adult has to have a formal goal to develop their toothbrushing skills. That doesn't mean that they shouldn't continue to brush their teeth. It means that they would be able to work on goals that really matter to them.
Some of the adults that I know have been working on learning to brush their teeth for over 30 years. If they haven't gotten it just right after a certain amount of time, accept that they have developed that skill to the best of their ability. Then work with them on achieving a goal that matters and increases the quality of their lives. You still have them brush their teeth everyday, preferably after every meal and before bed. You still help them in the areas that they need help while allowing them to do as much as they can for themselves. But you don't keep it as a formal goal that you have to report on.
Then you ask them what they want out of life and help them to establish goals toward their dreams. Maybe they'll want to cook a meal for their friends. Or learn how to use the computer. Or learn how to read. Or volunteer at a hospital. Or play an instrument.
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