What are the characteristics of students with an Intellectual Impairment?

Students with Intellectual Impairment will have diverse needs and should all be treated as unique individuals.   The level of support needed for each student will vary and often encompass several areas. 

Ashman and Elkins (1998, p.419) state that "People with an intellectual disability are as diverse in their characteristics and nature as others in our community.  All have individual learning needs in much the same way as every other child and adult.  Intellectual disability is not the result of one social or biological cause even though the appearance or behaviour of some people may give the impression of some common features" and that "most are able to operate satisfactorily in the community with varying support". 

Students with Intellectual Impairment will generally need a lot more time to acquire new knowledge and skills compared with other students of the same age.  They will also have  limitations in areas of the adaptive skills identified by the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD). 

Adaptive skill areas, as defined by the AAIDD  include: 

  • "Conceptual skills—language and literacy; money, time, and number concepts; and self-direction
  • Social skills—interpersonal skills, social responsibility, self-esteem, gullibility, naïveté (i.e., wariness), social problem solving, and the ability to follow rules, obey laws, and avoid being victimized
  • Practical skills—activities of daily living (personal care), occupational skills, healthcare, travel/transportation, schedules/routines, safety, use of money, use of the telephone".

"The areas of communication, social/interpersonal skills and self-direction are those that most affect the classroom situation and student learning.

Some examples of difficulties students with an intellectual impairment may include:

Communication
- understanding and expressing information
- learning the rules of language

Social/Interpersonal skills
- recognising feelings of self and others
- the ability to share
- the ability to form friendships

Self Direction
- following a timetable
- completing necessary tasks
- planning - short term and long term"
(Queensland Studies Authority, 2007). 

Further information on these characteristics can be found in the Queensland Studies Authority handbook on Intellectual Impairment and can be accessed via the References and Links page on this website.


Picture