Intellectual Disabilities
By : Payton Enzbrenner
Definition
Intellectual Disabilities are disabilities characterized by significant limitations in both intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior. The disability originates before the age of 18.
Characteristic Indicators
- Difficult or lack of understanding new concepts
- Slowness or struggle in processing data
- Organizational challenges
- Below average intellectual functioning
- Difficulty keeping up
Diagnostic Tests
- Prenatal screening - testing on the mother during pregnancy can reveal whether a child will be born with intellectual disabilities
Later, team approaches such as:
- Home and classroom observation - teachers and paras may pay extra attention to those students in the classroom
- Medical exam - physical exam, medical history, neurological testing, testing of adaptive functioning, social and behavioral observations
Instructional Strategies/Accommodations
- Physical, speech and occupational therapy- therapy to help the student develop and learn with focus on daily activities
- Special Education classes - specialized classes to assist the student in bettering their learning
- Psychological counseling
- Inclusive classroom environment that includes differential teaching methods
- Mentoring
Accommodations could be made in the classroom and at home such as :
- computer-voiced systems to help with communication
- assistance in the classroom
- teach students practical things along with planned lesson
Disability Awareness: Intellectual Disability