Intellectual Disabilities

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.
General Characteristics: *characteristics are unique to each individual*

• Problems with cognition
• Problems with adaptive behavior
• A need for supports to sustain independence

Strengths & Abilities:
Each individual has unique strengths and abilities and cannot be generalized.
Needs:

• Natural supports - individuals own resources, family, friends, and neighbors.
• Nonpaid supports - ordinary neighborhood and community (ex. clubs, recreational leagues)
• Generic supports - services as public transportation and states' human services systems.
• Specialized supports - disability-specific, such as human services delivered to families.

Examples of Assistive Technology:

1. Screen magnification (you can read my post here) 
2. Eye tracking software to allow expressive communication 

Resources:

• http://do2learn.com/disabilities/CharacteristicsAndStrategies/IntellectualDisability_Characteristics.html
• https://www.disability.gov/resource/assistive-technology-individuals-intellectual-developmental-disabilities/
• http://www.tamcec.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/AT-Supports-IDD.pdf