Managing Diversity in the Classroom - Intellectual Impairment
Educational Implications (QLD, Australia)
Education Queensland advises that for students with an Intellectual Impairment, "communication, social and interpersonal skills, and self direction are the areas that will have the most effect on student learning and the classroom situation". (2007)
The Queensland Studies Authority states that the group of students characterised as having Intellectual Impairment will have "significantly below average intellectual functioning, existing concurrently with related limitations in two or more of the following applicable skill areas:
- communication
- home living
- community use
- health and safety
- leisure
- self-care
- social skills
- self-direction
- functional academics
- work".
An Educational Adjustment Program (EAP) in QLD can be implemented to support students with an Intellectual Impairment.
In order for the Educational Adjustment Program to be applicable, certain criteria must be met with relevant evidence.
In brief as defined by Education Queensland (2010) these criteria are:
Criterion 1:
a. significant limitations in intellectual functioning
b. significant limitations in adaptive behaviour
c. the impairment originates before 18 years of age.
Criterion 2:
The student's identified level of functioning results in activity limitations and participation restrictions at school requiring significant education adjustments.
Further information on the details of the EAP process is available as a link on the references page.
Education QLD has a Disability Services Support Unit (DSSU) to support students in schools.
"The purpose of DSSU is to enhance and facilitate inclusive education practices with a focus on students with:
Services are provided by a team of professional staff from a range of disciplines to support:
A link to this site with further information can be accessed from the References and Links page.
Your student
It is important to remember that even though your student may have an intellectual impairment, he or she is still like any other child who will have various likes and dislikes, and who wants to fit in socially and be accepted, just like all children do.
The Queensland Studies Authority states that the group of students characterised as having Intellectual Impairment will have "significantly below average intellectual functioning, existing concurrently with related limitations in two or more of the following applicable skill areas:
- communication
- home living
- community use
- health and safety
- leisure
- self-care
- social skills
- self-direction
- functional academics
- work".
An Educational Adjustment Program (EAP) in QLD can be implemented to support students with an Intellectual Impairment.
In order for the Educational Adjustment Program to be applicable, certain criteria must be met with relevant evidence.
In brief as defined by Education Queensland (2010) these criteria are:
Criterion 1:
a. significant limitations in intellectual functioning
b. significant limitations in adaptive behaviour
c. the impairment originates before 18 years of age.
Criterion 2:
The student's identified level of functioning results in activity limitations and participation restrictions at school requiring significant education adjustments.
Further information on the details of the EAP process is available as a link on the references page.
Education QLD has a Disability Services Support Unit (DSSU) to support students in schools.
"The purpose of DSSU is to enhance and facilitate inclusive education practices with a focus on students with:
- disabilities
- special needs in communication
- specialised health needs.
Services are provided by a team of professional staff from a range of disciplines to support:
- inclusive education practice
- curriculum engagement and delivery, and
- alignment of policy and practice." Education QLD, 2011
A link to this site with further information can be accessed from the References and Links page.
Your student
It is important to remember that even though your student may have an intellectual impairment, he or she is still like any other child who will have various likes and dislikes, and who wants to fit in socially and be accepted, just like all children do.
