1. Intellectual Disability
Definition in IDEA:“…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 CFR §300.8(c)(6)]
In 2010, President Obama signed Rosa’s Law, which replaced the stigmatizing label “Mental
Retardation” with the more acceptable term “Intellectual Disability”
IDs are the most common form of developmental disability
1-3% of America’s general populationand10%of students requiring SPED have an ID
Causes:Genetic conditions (e.g. Down syndrome, Fragile X syndrome, Williams syndrome),
problems during pregnancy (e.g. mother who used alcohol during pregnancy, improper cell division),
problems at birth (e.g. lack of oxygen), and health problems (e.g. malnutrition, lack of appropriate
medical care, contact with poisons, and diseases like whooping cough, meningitis, or the measles)
Characteristics:
Variety of physical markers depending on cause of the disability
Below average intelligenceranging in incidence rate and severity
o For a mild diagnosis, students’ IQ scores will be between 70-75 or below
o For a moderate to severe diagnosis, students’ IQ scores will be approximately 55 or
below
Slower learning rate and greater difficulty retaining information
May reach a point where learning levels off
Difficulty generalizing skills learned in one context to another
Trouble solving problems/thinking logically
Difficulty with social and daily living skills
Developmental delays

2. Suggested Teaching Strategies:
Treat students appropriately according to their chronological age
Carefully follow the strategies outlined in the student’s IEP
Break large concepts down into smaller steps and include breaks
Teach one subject or idea at a time
Supply manipulatives to concretely represent concepts
Provide opportunities for continued practice in a variety of settings
Teach social and daily living skills
Match expectations to instruction (i.e. accommodations and modifications)
Use peer-tutoring, inclusive methods, and family involvement
Additional Resources:
The Arc
http://www.thearc.org/page.aspx?pid+2335
The Arc is a community-based organization that advocates and serves those with intellectual and
developmental disabilities and their families. The site includes various fact sheets on intellectual
disabilities detailing everything from the causes of these disabilities to criminal justice issues
regarding these disabilities.
The Utah Association for Intellectual Disabilities (UIAD)
http://www.uaidutah.org/home
The UIAD is a relatively new non-profit organization that formed in 2008 after The Arc of Utah
closed due to financial reasons. UIAD took over some of the services the local Arc chapter
provided, including the “Holiday Gift Box Program, Bridge to the Future, Connections to
Computers, and socialization projects.” The Bridge to the Future is a particularly beneficial resource
for parents and educators alike, outlining the services a person with an intellectual disability may
require throughout stages of his or her life. People interested in supporting UIAD’s mission are
welcome to volunteer.
Project Ideal
http://www.projectidealonline.org/index.php
Project Ideal is part of a teacher preparation program meant to prepare teachers to work with
students with disabilities. It provides helpful resources such as tips for classroom management and
managing student behavior along with descriptions of disability categories and disability law.
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
http://www.eeoc.gov/facts/intellectual_disabilities.html
The EEOC provides information on employment opportunities and the rights of workers with
intellectual disabilities. EEOC is an important resource for educators to gain knowledge on how to
prepare students with disabilities for future jobs and opportunities. This resource would be
especially applicable for secondary teachers.
American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD)
http://www.aamr.org/index.cfm
The AAIDDoffers links to national disability organizations focusing on specific disabilities.