Intellectual Disorders: Understanding Individuals With Disabilities

Intellectual Functioning: This is having the cognitive abilities to learn, problem solve, abstractive thinking, adapting to new ideas or concepts and accumulating knowledge. It is also stated that in IQ test is used to define a diagnosis of an intellectual disability. Relating a low IQ test score and having an intellectual disability are not significant enough to determine as many people may have a low test score but not be diagnosed with an intellectual disability.

According to the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (2017), an intellectual disability is classified as a deficit in “intellectual functioning” and “adaptive behaviors.” For a disability to be qualified as an intellectual disability it must have originated before the age of 18. Some diagnoses that fit under intellectual disability include autism, Down Syndrome, Fragile X Syndrome, and Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. “Developmental disability” is the umbrella term, encompassing many other disabilities, including those that fall under the category of intellectual disability. Developmental disabilities typically impact an individual in a physical way, such as cerebral palsy or epilepsy.

Many people may say one is a retard without knowing the truth behind the actual word. Intellectual Disability, also known as Mental Retardation, is a very serious psychological disorder that few are faced with for life. Intellectual Disability is characterized by a below-average level of intelligence (a mental ability) that lacks skills necessary for daily living. An IQ is the standard way to measure the level of intelligence one may have. Roughly 95% of humans have the IQ between 70 and 130. (Meyers and DeWall, 2014). The other five percent are either absolute genius or intellectually disabled. Being intellectually disabled can be caused in many ways

An intellectual disability, like the one had by Roland Johnson and about one percent to three percent of people, is defined as “a disability that is present at birth or occurs in the developmental period (before the age of 18) and is characterized by significant sub-average intellectual functioning, existing concurrently with related limitations in 2 or more areas of adaptive functioning” (Daul). Roland Johnson, though his life was hard, did not let his “limitations” limit him.

Though all three criteria must be met, during diagnosis emphasis is placed on the individual’s level of intellectual impairment. In order to determine this, IQ tests such as the Wechsler intelligence scale are completed and the results used to determine if an individual has a learning disability. A person is deemed to have a learning disability if on these IQ tests they score below 70.

When learning about Intellectual Disability (ID) it is important to explore the subject with people that work with students of ID. The (SPED) special education team placed together for a student in order to determine the students individual education plan (IEP). This SPED team consist of: Special Educator: Mr. Richard Franklin, General Educator: Ms. Rama Smith (Spelling, Literature), Speech Therapist: Mrs. LuDonna Martin, Principal: Mr. John Denton, Community Organizer and Retired Teacher: Mrs. Nelda Clements and I as the Special

Prior to the 1970’s, those with intellectual disabilities were placed in institutions, but after this time there was an effort to keep people with intellectual disabilities in their own communities. This change has both positive and negative implications. While this brought people with intellectual disabilities back to their communities and helped them integrate into a more normal way of life, many are now in jails or homeless.

Intellectual disabilities (ID) in education require proper planning, collaboration, communication, accommodations, modified lessons, and detailed individualized instructions. Intellectual disabilities affect many aspect of a person daily life with a variety of emotional, mental, social, and physical characteristics (Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Foundation, n.d.). Intellectual disabilities are also known as mental retardation (National Institute of Health, 2010). When educating students diagnosed with intellectual disabilities individual education plans (IEP) play a large role in the education process and ensure disabled students are meeting goals, reaching academic

Intellectual disability, once referred to as mental retardation, is a disability that refers to a person’s limitation in intelligence (Foreman and Arthur-Kelly,2014). The most common causes of intellectual disabilities are genetic

The American Association of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAID, 2013) states an, “intellectual disability is a disability characterized by significant limitations in both intellectual functioning and in adaptive behavior, which covers many everyday social and practical skills. This disability originates before the age of 18” (para.1). Adaptive behaviors include many everyday social and practical skills such as interpersonal and communication skills, social problem solving and responsibility, the use of time and money, as well as daily personal care and safety.

Arnold, S, R. C, Riches, V. C., Stancliffe, R. J. (2011). Intelligence is as intelligence does: Can additional support needs replace diversity? Journal of Intellectual & Developmental Disability, 36 (4), 254-258.

Of particular importance is the IQ-achievement deficit method of testing, which has not been empirically supported (Vaughn and Fuchs, 2003). There has been no evidence found that degree of discrepancy relates to learning disability in any way; that students with a discrepancy perform differently (academically) than those without; and that there is any reliable information to be obtained, or any way to tailor instruction, based upon a student’s discrepancy score (Vaughn and Fuchs, 2003). Thus, those classified as learning disabled may be falsely identified as such, or there may be additional factors at play that are not uncovered, such as educational inadequacy (Vaughn and Fuchs,

There are millions of people across the United States who have a developmental disability. This may include things such as autism, Down Syndrome, or cerebral palsy. Developmental disabilities may also include an intellectual disability or a hearing, sight, or mobility issue. With so many people in our nation dealing with developmental disabilities, understanding what they are facing is important.

Intellectual Disability. Intellectual disability is a generalized disorder appearing before adulthood, characterized by significantly impaired cognitive functioning and deficits in two or more adaptive behaviors. Time out and modeling have the highest level of usability with a weighted mean of 2.69, followed by activity reinforcers with a weighted mean of 2.63. Time out has been effective in reducing behaviors such as tantrums, inappropriate social behaviors, yelling, aggression, time spent out-of-seat and inappropriate verbalizations which are common to children with intellectual disability (Alberto, Delfin and Andrews, 2002).

The average IQ score is 100, a score above 130 is labelled as extremely smart while a score below 70 is labelled as developmental delays.