Table of Contents

Matthew's Story
What is Intellectual Disability?
What Causes Intellectual Disability?
How is Intellectual Disability Diagnosed?
How Common is Intellectual Disability?
What Are the Signs of Intellectual Disability?
What About School?
Tips for Parents
Tips for Teachers
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Matthew's Story
Matt is 15 years old. Because Matt has an intellectual
disability, he has been receiving special education services
since elementary school. These services have helped him
tremendously, because they are designed to fit his special
learning needs. Last year he started high school. He, his
family, and the school took a good hard look at what he
wants to do when secondary school is over. Does he want
more education? A job? Does he have the skills he needs
to live on his own?
Answering these questions has helped Matt and the school plan for the future. He's always been
interested in the outdoors, in plants, and especially in trees. He knows all the tree names and can
recognize them by their leaves and bark. So this year he's learning about jobs like forestry,
landscaping, and grounds maintenance. Next year he hopes to get a part-time job. He's learning to use
public transportation, so he'll be able to get to and from the job. Having an intellectual disability makes
it harder for Matt to learn new things. He needs things to be very concrete. But he's determined. He
wants to work outside, maybe in the park service or in a greenhouse, and he's getting ready!
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What is Intellectual Disability?
Intellectual disability is a term used when a person has certain limitations in mental functioning and in
skills such as communicating, taking care of him or herself, and social skills. These limitations will
cause a child to learn and develop more slowly than a typical child. Children with intellectual disability
may take longer to learn to speak, walk, and take care of their personal needs such as dressing or
eating. They are likely to have trouble learning in school. They will learn, but it will take them longer.
There may be some things they cannot learn.
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What Causes Intellectual Disability?
Doctors have found many causes of intellectual disability. The most common are:
Genetic conditions. Sometimes intellectual disability is caused by abnormal genes inherited from
parents, errors when genes combine, or other reasons. Examples of genetic conditions are Down
syndrome, fragile X syndrome, and phenylketonuria (PKU).
Problems during pregnancy. Intellectual disability can result when the baby does not develop
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inside the mother properly. For example, there may be a problem with the way the baby's cells
divide as it grows. A woman who drinks alcohol or gets an infection like rubella during pregnancy
may also have a baby with intellectual disability.
Problems at birth. If a baby has problems during labor and birth, such as not getting enough
oxygen, he or she may have intellectual disability.
Health problems. Diseases like whooping cough, the measles, or meningitis can cause an
intellectual disability. Intellectual disabilities can also be caused by extreme malnutrition (not
eating right), not getting enough medical care, or by being exposed to poisons like lead or
mercury.
Intellectual disability is not a disease. You can't catch it from anyone. Mental retardation or intellectual
disability is also not a type of mental illness, like depression. There is no cure for intellectual disability.
However, most children with intellectual disability can learn to do many things. It just takes them more
time and effort than other children.
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How is Intellectual Disability Diagnosed?
Intellectual disability is the currently preferred term for the disability historically referred to as mental
retardation. Although the preferred name is intellectual disability, the authoritative definition and
assumptions put forth by the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
(AAIDD) remain the same as those found in the Mental Retardation: Definition, Classification and
Systems of Supports manual (Luckasson et al., 2002).
The term intellectual disability covers the same population of individuals who were diagnosed
previously with mental retardation in number, kind, level, type, and duration of the disability and the
need of people with this disability for individualized services and supports.
Intellectual disability is diagnosed by looking at two main things. These are:
the ability of a person's brain to learn, think, solve problems, and make sense of the world (called
IQ or intellectual functioning); and
whether the person has the skills he or she needs to live independently (called adaptive behavior,
or adaptive functioning).
Intellectual functioning, or IQ, is usually measured by a test called an IQ test. The average score is
100. People scoring below 70 to 75 are thought to have an intellectual disability. To measure adaptive
behavior, professionals look at what a child can do in comparison to other children of his or her age.
Certain skills are important to adaptive behavior. These are:
daily living skills, such as getting dressed, going to the bathroom, and feeding one's self;
communication skills, such as understanding what is said and being able to answer;
social skills with peers, family members, adults, and others.
To diagnose an intellectual disability, professionals look at the person's mental abilities (IQ) and his or
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her adaptive skills. Both of these are highlighted in the definition provided in the Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The IDEA is the federal law that guides how schools provide early
intervention and special education and related services to children with disabilities.
IDEA's Definition of "Mental Retardation"
Our nation's special education law, the IDEA, defines mental retardation as . . .
". . . significantly subaverage general intellectual functioning, existing concurrently with deficits in
adaptive behavior and manifested during the developmental period, that adversely affects a child's
educational performance." [34 Code of Federal Regulations 300.8(c)(6)]
Providing services to help individuals with an intellectual disability has led to a new understanding
of the disability. After the initial diagnosis of intellectual disability is made, we look at a person's
strengths and weaknesses. We also look at how much support or help the person needs to get along at
home, in school, and in the community. This approach gives a realistic picture of each individual. It
also recognizes that the "picture" can change. As the person grows and learns, his or her ability to get
along in the world grows as well.
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How Common is Intellectual Disability?
As many as 3 out of every 100 people in the country have an intellectual disability (The Arc, 2001).
Nearly 614,000 children ages 3 to 21 have some level of intellectual disability and need special
education in school (Twenty-sixth Annual Report to Congress, U.S. Department of Education, 2006). In
fact, 1 out of every 10 children who need special education has some form of intellectual disability.
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What Are the Signs of Intellectual Disability?
There are many signs of intellectual disability. For example, children with intellectual disability may:
sit up, crawl, or walk later than other children;
learn to talk later, or have trouble speaking,
find it hard to remember things,
not understand how to pay for things,
have trouble understanding social rules,
have trouble seeing the consequences of their actions,
have trouble solving problems, and/or
have trouble thinking logically.
About 87% of people with intellectual disability will only be a little slower than average in learning new
information and skills. When they are children, their limitations may not be obvious. They may not even
be diagnosed as having intellectual disability until they get to school. As they become adults, many
people with intellectual disability can live independently. Other people may not even consider them as
having an intellectual disability.
The remaining 13% of people with intellectual disability score below 50 on IQ tests. These people will
have more difficulty in school, at home, and in the community. A person with more severe intellectual
disability will need more intensive support his or her entire life. Every child with intellectual disability is
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able to learn, develop, and grow. With help, all children with intellectual disability can live a satisfying
life.
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What About School?
A child with an intellectual disability can do well in school but is likely to need individualized help.
Fortunately, states are responsible for meeting the educational needs of children with disabilities.
For children up to age three, services are provided through an early intervention system. Staff work
with the child's family to develop what is known as an Individualized Family Services Plan, or IFSP. The
IFSP will describe the child's unique needs. It also describes the services the child will receive to
address those needs. The IFSP will emphasize the unique needs of the family, so that parents and
other family members will know how to help their young child with an intellectual disability. Early
intervention services may be provided on a sliding-fee basis, meaning that the costs to the family will
depend upon their income. In some states, early intervention services may be at no cost to parents.
For eligible school-aged children (including preschoolers), special education and related services are
made available through the school system. School staff will work with the child's parents to develop an
Individualized Education Program, or IEP. The IEP is similar to an IFSP. It describes the child's unique
needs and the services that have been designed to meet those needs. Special education and related
services are provided at no cost to parents.
Many children with an intellectual disability need help with adaptive skills, which are skills needed to
live, work, and play in the community. Teachers and parents can help a child work on these skills at
both school and home. Some of these skills include:
communicating with others;
taking care of personal needs (dressing, bathing, going to the bathroom);
health and safety;
home living (helping to set the table, cleaning the house, or cooking dinner);
social skills (manners, knowing the rules of conversation, getting along in a group, playing a
game);
reading, writing, and basic math; and
as they get older, skills that will help them in the workplace.
Supports or changes in the classroom (called adaptations) help most students with an intellectual
disability. Some common changes that help students are listed under "Tips for Teachers." The
resources below also include ways for parents to help their child with an intellectual disability.
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Tips for Parents
Learn about intellectual disability. The more you know, the more you can help yourself and your
child. See the resources and organizations identified in the boxes at the right.
Encourage independence in your child. For example, help your child learn daily care skills, such
as dressing, feeding him or herself, using the bathroom, and grooming.
Give your child chores. Keep her age, attention span, and abilities in mind. Break down jobs into
smaller steps. For example, if your child's job is to set the table, first ask her to get the right
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number of napkins. Then have her put one at each family member's place at the table. Do the
same with the utensils, going one at a time. Tell her what to do, step by step, until the job is
done. Demonstrate how to do the job. Help her when she needs assistance. Give your child
frequent feedback. Praise your child when he or she does well. Build your child's abilities.
Find out what skills your child is learning at school. Find ways for your child to apply those skills
at home. For example, if the teacher is going over a lesson about money, take your child to the
supermarket with you. Help him count out the money to pay for your groceries. Help him count
the change.
Find opportunities in your community for social activities, such as scouts, recreation center
activities, sports, and so on. These will help your child build social skills as well as to have fun.
Talk to other parents whose children have intellectual disability. Parents can share practical
advice and emotional support. Call NICHCY (1.800.695.0285) and ask how to find a parent group
near you.
Meet with the school and develop an educational plan to address your child's needs. Keep in
touch with your child's teachers. Offer support. Find out how you can support your child's school
learning at home.
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Tips for Teachers
Learn as much as you can about intellectual disability. The organizations and resources listed in
the boxes at the right will help you identify specific techniques and strategies to support the
student educationally. We've also listed some strategies below.
Recognize that you can make an enormous difference in this student's life! Find out what the
student's strengths and interests are, and emphasize them. Create opportunities for success.
If you are not part of the student's Individualized Education Program (IEP) team, ask for a copy
of his or her IEP. The student's educational goals will be listed there, as well as the services and
classroom accommodations he or she is to receive. Talk to specialists in your school (e.g., special
educators), as necessary. They can help you identify effective methods of teaching this student,
ways to adapt the curriculum, and how to address the student's IEP goals in your classroom.
Be as concrete as possible. Demonstrate what you mean rather than just giving verbal directions.
Rather than just relating new information verbally, show a picture. And rather than just showing
a picture, provide the student with hands-on materials and experiences and the opportunity to try
things out.
Break longer, new tasks into small steps. Demonstrate the steps. Have the student do the steps,
one at a time. Provide assistance, as necessary.
Give the student immediate feedback.
Teach the student academic and life skills such as daily living, social skills, and occupational
awareness and exploration, as appropriate. Involve the student in group activities or clubs.
Work together with the student's parents and other school personnel to create and implement an
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educational plan tailored to meet the student's needs. Regularly share information about how the
student is doing at school and at home.
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NICHCY thanks our Project Officer, Dr. Judy L. Shanley, at the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), U.S. Department of Education.
Publication of this Web resource page is made possible through Cooperative Agreement #H326N030003 between the Academy for Educational
Development and the Office of Special Education Programs of the U.S. Department of Education. The contents of this document do not necessarily
reflect the views or policies of the Department of Education, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply
endorsement by the U.S. Government.
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