MILD INTELLECTUAL

DISABILITIES

Characteristics of
Definition:
Mild Intellectual
An intellectual disability means significantly sub-average
Disabilities: general intellectual functioning, existing concurrently with
Academic-
deficits in adaptive behavior and manifested during the
• Learns more slowly – needs
developmental period, that adversely affects a child's
more repetition.
educational performance.
• Academic deficits.
•Learns concretely.
• Difficulty remembering Educational Approach for MID:
directions & expectations.
• Takes longer to accomplish • DIRECT INSTRUCTION.
tasks. • Embed functional curriculum.
Social/ Behavioral-
• Use Concrete Examples when teaching.
• Socially awkward. • Move from concrete objects, to
• Often extra friendly. pictures, to symbols, THEN to
• Lacks appropriate social
graphics/abstracts.
skills for getting teacher’s
attention. • Unison Responding (choral responding).
• Often easy to please. • Use Visuals - Make each activity real.
• May have difficulty • Structured Class & Schedule (give notice
controlling emotions.
• Persistent.
for changes).
• Becomes fixated on certain • Extend Generalization for All Content.
topics. • Make connections obvious; connect old
• Overly dependent on
learning to new learning & across
parents/caretakers (learned
helplessness). content.
• Plan Extended Maintenance of skills
Physical- Peer Buddies (for all students).
• Doesn’t understand social
rules/pragmatics.

• Deficits in adaptive behavior-

everyday life skills.
• Socially immature
Instructional Strategies for MID:
• Cooperative Learning Groups (heterogeneous).
• Alternative Curriculum.
• Alternative Assignments (products).
• Connect learning to Real Life.
• EXTRA practice.
• Hands-on Learning – use manipulatives – use
a variety of tools/approaches for each skill.
• Repetition & Use Gestures to prompt and remind.
• Homework ONLY after mastery!
• Incorporate Mnemonics, Movement, and
Drama (role playing/acting out
concepts).
Common
Accommodations for MID:
• Partner or Cooperative Learning.
• Alternative Curriculum.
• Paper-based resources that assist
student in recalling information:
charts, word lists, step-by-step
directions, number lines, and
word walls.
• Pre-teach concepts.
• Alternative Assignments (products).
• EXTRA practice.
• Audio text or Read Aloud.
• Scribe.