INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY

A disability characterized
by significant limitations
in intellectual
functioning and in
adaptive behaviour as
expressed in conceptual,
social and practical
adaptive skills, which has
to originate before the
age of 18.

Classifications of
Intellectual Disability
Level

IQ range

Mild

50 70

Moderate
Severe

Profound

35 49
20 34
19 & less

Disorders Associated with

Intellectual Disability
1. Down Syndrome

A Few Communication Tips!

Teach in small steps with repetition.
Speak clearly using uncomplicated language
and statements - plain English.
Check that the person has understood what
has been said and be prepared to repeat what
you have said using different words.
Allow sufficient time for the student to
respond and to ask questions.
Use a wider range of teaching strategies such
as illustrations, pictorial systems, site visits or
breaking down the activity to smaller, more
achievable units of learning.

If a child has...

Slow processing of information and

acquisition of new skills

Short attention span

Difficulty attending to relevant features of

learning task

Difficulty retaining information in short-term

memory

Poor problem-solving skills

Little motivation

He/she might have Intellectual Disability. Inform

parents immediately & advise them to have their
child undergo a diagnostic assessment.

2. Fragile X Syndrome

Other sources of support,

Please contact:

4. Smith-Magenis Syndrome

Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of

Singapore (MINDS)
Tel: 6479 5655
Email: minds@minds.org.sg

3. Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders

5. Turner Syndrome

6. Lesch-Nyhan Syndrome
7. Prader-Willi Syndrome

8. Angelman Syndrome

MIND Special Education Schools

Lee Kong Chian Gardens Schools
802 Margaret Drive, Singapore 149311
Tel: 6473 8332 Fax: 6473 4776

Information and
Strategies for Teachers

Intellectual
Disability
Awareness

Strategies for Teachers Characteristics of Children

Teach academics in the context of daily
with Intellectual Disabilities
living skills
Example: Functional reading; reading newspaper
and product labels

Instructions in real life settings with real

materials

Example: Using pictorial and visual learning

systems with practice can be more beneficial
than large chunks of text

Give students systematic instructions.

Intellectual disabled students needs to

be prompted to respond in appropriate
manner
Different types of prompts: Verbal, Gestural,
Physical & Teachers modeling

Use of positive reinforcers

Examples: Verbal praises and tokens that can be

traded for prizes and rewards

Peer tutoring to help integrate students

with intellectual disability into general
educational classroom

Poor in self- help skills

Language development

Limited receptive & productive language

Having difficulties with daily activities such as eating,

dressing up, toileting needs, purchasing items and
travelling by transportations.

Metacognition

Slow to learn

Difficulties in being aware of what strategies are needed

to perform tasks, the ability to plan how to use these
strategies and the evaluation of how these strategies
will work

Due to their low IQ level, children with intellectual

disability tend to be slower than average in learning
new information and skills. Therefore, more time is
needed from teachers and/or caregivers.

Self- regulation
Difficulties in self-regulating emotions

Social isolation

Motivation

Learned helplessness Look for external rather than

internal sources of motivation because they believe that
they have little control over what happens

Working memory

Difficulties in their ability to retain information while

working simultaneously on another task

Gullibility

Tendency to believe something, usually a highly

questioned statement or claim, despite scanty evidence

Children with intellectual disabilities have difficulties

in communicating and socializing with their peers as
they have difficulties expressing their feelings
verbally.

Low self- esteem

Children with intellectual disability may recognize

that they are socially and mentally behind others of
their own age. Additionally, they are also labeled by
their disability.

Challenges Faced by Children

with Intellectual Disabilities

Quick Facts!

Down syndrome had become the most recognizable form of disability by the early
20th century.
It is named after John Langdon Down, the British doctor who first described the
syndrome scientifically in 1886.
3 out of 100 people meet the criteria of intellectual disabilities but only 1% of the
population is identified.