Understanding Intellectual Disabilities: Dispelling Myths and Supporting Learning

🧠Intellectual disability affects a child's intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior.

🌱The causes of intellectual disabilities include genetic, prenatal, and birth complications.

📚Contrary to misconceptions, individuals with intellectual disabilities can learn complex cognitive tasks, such as reading.

🧩The brain is plastic and capable of forming new connections and learning throughout life, even in individuals with intellectual disabilities.

🎓Supportive teaching practices, interventions, and differentiation strategies can help individuals with intellectual disabilities learn new skills and improve their educational outcomes.

What is intellectual disability?

—Intellectual disability is a developmental condition that impacts a child's intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior.

What are the causes of intellectual disabilities?

—Intellectual disabilities can be caused by genetic factors, prenatal complications, and birth complications.

Can individuals with intellectual disabilities learn complex tasks?

—Yes, with good education and support, individuals with intellectual disabilities can learn complex cognitive tasks, such as reading.

Is the brain capable of learning and forming new connections in individuals with intellectual disabilities?

—Yes, the brain is plastic and can form new connections and learn throughout life, even in individuals with intellectual disabilities.

How can we support individuals with intellectual disabilities in their learning?

—We can support individuals with intellectual disabilities by providing systematic and explicit instruction, emphasizing their strengths, and using cognitive and metacognitive strategies.

00:00Intellectual disability is a developmental condition that affects a child's intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior.

00:23Psychologists assess intellectual skills using cognitive tests that provide an IQ score.

00:36Around 1.5 million people in the UK have an intellectual disability.

00:46Intellectual disabilities can have genetic, prenatal, or birth complications as causes.

01:20There are common misconceptions that individuals with intellectual disabilities cannot learn complex tasks, but these are not true.

01:54The brain is plastic and can form new connections and learn throughout life, even in individuals with intellectual disabilities.

03:20Teaching practices, interventions, and differentiation strategies can support the learning of individuals with intellectual disabilities.

05:45Dispelling neuromyths is important to enable individuals with intellectual disabilities to reach their full educational potential.