Intellectual Disabilities

Kara Suckow * EDUC-613

What is an Intellectual Disability?

Originates before age 18
Significant limitations in intellectual

functioning and adaptive behavior

Adversely affects educational

performance
Typically determined from an IQ Score

How is an Intellectual Disability

Diagnosed?
Standardized Tests (IQ Test)
Adaptive Behavior Observation
The American Association on Intellectual and

Developmental Disabilities states these are

required during diagnosis:
1) Limitations must be compared to the individuals

age, culture, and peers

2) Assessments considers diversity
3) Limitations coexist with strengths
4) Profile of needed supports
5) Supports will improve quality of life

How does an ID Student become eligible for Special

Education?
A doctor/parent/teacher submits a request for the

student to receive special education services

Parent consent is collected
Formal assessments are conducted
The student is thoroughly observed in various classroom

settings
Parents interviews are conducted to collect data
Written report of data collection is prepared
IEP meeting determines appropriate

supports/interventions

ID Assessments
Assessments conducted to determine special

education eligibility, test the following areas:

Communication
Self-Care
Home Living Skills
Social Skills
Community Skills
Self-direction
Health and Safety
Application of Academic Skills
Leisure
Work

Data Collected from

Assessments
To be eligible for special education, students must fall in to

the following categories:

Standard score of 2+ standard deviations below the mean on

at least 1 administered intelligence test OR the child scores 12 standard deviations below the mean and has been
diagnosed with a cognitive disability which is expected to last
indefinitely
Standard score of 2+ standard deviations below the mean on
standardized test, testing one of the following: conceptual
skills, social adaptive skills, practical adaptive skills
Children age 3-5 score 2+ standard deviations below the
mean in language development and communication, and
cognition and general knowledge
Children age 6-21 score 2+ standard deviations below the
mean in written language, reading, and math

Common Intellectual
Disabilities
Autism Spectrum Disorders
Down Syndrome
Fragile X Syndrome
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder

Specific Intellectual Disability

Down Syndrome
Intellectual Disability caused by

chromosomal abnormality
47 chromosomes, instead of 46

One of most common/easily identifiable

chromosomal conditions
Wide variety in abilities, behaviors, and
developmental progress

Down Syndrome
Diagnosis
Chance of DS can be

detected in prenatal
screens
Chromosome test

administered shortly
after birth
Physical

characteristics
recognizable at birth

Characteristics
Physical:
Poor tone,

hyperflexibility,
short/broad hands
and feet, slanting
eyes, short neck,
small head
Health:
Speech problems,

hearing loss, heart

defects, low
resistance to infection

Down Syndrome
Causes
No evidence of

environmental
influence
Very low hereditary

component
Maternal age linked

to DS, increases
significantly after
age 40

Intervention
Early
Assessment
begins
shortly after birth
Intervention

necessary to
determine
appropriate
supports
Early intervention is

required for
infants/toddlers
with disabilities

Assessments for Children with Down

Syndrome
Cognition Testing
Tests childs performance compared with

other children of same age

Tests all areas of Development
0-5 Years: Mullen Scales of Early
Learning
Assesses intellectual development, tests

motor/visual/language skills, determines

school readiness
3 different forms of questionnaire

1-3 Years: Bayley Scales of Infant

Development II

Assessments for Children with Down

Syndrome
Communication Testing
Tests for delays in language development
Should be administered by speech/language

pathologists every 6 months for first 3 years

0-3 Years: Rosetti Infant/Toddler Language
Scale
Identify verbal/pre-verbal language development

problems
Completed by observing or from parent reporting

0-Toddler: MacArthur Communicative

Development Inventory
Assesses language and communications skills in

infants/toddlers
Parent reported, compared to a set of standards

Assessments for Children with Down

Syndrome
Social Interaction/Relationship Testing
Identifies ability to interact/relate to other people
Tests cognition, language, hearing, and gross/fine

motor skills
0-8 Years: Batelle Developmental Inventory
Screens/evaluates early childhood developmental

milestones
Test uses questions and objects for child to

manipulate
2-9 Years: GeseII Developmental

Observation-Revised
Compares childs behavior to typical growth patterns
Results correspond to standard performance level

rating

Down Syndrome Resources

The National Down Syndrome Society
666 Broadway, 8th Floor, New York, NY

10012
http://www.ndss.org
The National Down Syndrome Congress
1370 Center Drive-Suite 102, Atlanta, GA

30338
http://www.NDSCcenter.org
The Down Syndrome Parent Network
3626 Church Road, Easton, PA 18045

Works Cited
National Down Syndrome Society.. What Is Down Syndrome.

Retrieved September 27, 2015, from NDSS.org:

http://www.ndss.org/Down-Syndrome/What-Is-Down-Syndrome
New York State Department of Health. (2011). Down Syndrome:

Assessment and Intervention for Young Children. NY State Dept. of

Health-Bureau of Early Intervention , 25-100.
Parent Center Hub. (2015, July). Down Syndrome. Retrieved

September 27, 2015, from Parent Center Hub.Org:

http://www.parentcenterhub.org/repository/downsyndrome/
Special Education Eligibility. (June, 2005). Retrieved September 27,

2015, from Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction:

https://sped.dpi.wi.gov/sped_eligibility
Weidenthal, D. C. (March, 2012). Categories of Disability Under IDEA.

Retrieved September 27, 2015, from NICHCY: http://nichcy.org