Question

What are the most important features of effective instruction for students with intellectual disabilities?

What are alternative ways of identifying children with learning disabilities?

Answer 1

• Generally an intellectual disability is defined as occurring at an IQ score of less than 70. An IQ of 100 is seen as being average in the wider population. An intellectual disability is usually seen as occurring if the problem has existed during childhood, rather than happening later in life.
• People with an intellectual disability have difficulties in:
• Understanding complex information.
• Using logical thinking to plan ideas and solve problems.
• Following directions and instructions, particularly those which involve multiple steps or complex information.
• Using judgment and abstract thought
• For effective instructions to be provided to such students its important use concrete items and examples to explain new concepts and provide practice in existing skill areas and learning about the needs and characteristics of the students is very important to plan an instruction method exclsively based on this assessment.
• When providing instructions its important not to overwhelm students with multiple or complex instructions and information.
• Identifying the type of struggle a child may have with learning is also imperative to future success.there is a distinction between a learning disability and a difficulty.
• The two terms are sometimes used interchangeably, but there is a distinct difference between the two. Everyone experiences difficulty when learning something. We are not adept at every skill.
• A learning disability on the other hand, refers to a disorder manifested by significant difficulties in acquisition and use of listening, speaking, reading, writing, reasoning or mathematical abilities.
• As instructors certain things need to be kept in mind while observing to identify learning difficulties including,when students have difficulty remembering facts,confusing basic words (dog, cat, run),impulsive behaviour,basic mathematical calculations,basic reading skills etc. All these ways can be used to identify learning disabilities.