Intellectual disabilities

According to the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (DSM-V), Intellectual disability is a disability characterized by significant limitations in intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior manifested in conceptual, social, and practical skills.

The diagnosis of Intelectual disability requires the satisfaction of three criteria:

1. Deficits in intellectual functioning: reasoning, problem-solving, planning, abstract thinking, judgment, academic learning, and learning from experience. It has to be confirmed by clinical evaluation and individualized standard IQ testing (lower than 70)
2. Deficits in adaptive functioning that significantly hamper meeting the developmental and sociocultural standards for the individual’s independence
3. Onset during the developmental period (under 18)

They usually have generalized problems in the process of learning. They have difficulties in several areas of development: Autonomy, Cognition, Language, Social interaction, Motor skills, sometimes it’s associated to health conditions.

Each individual is different. We have to develop their autonomy (supervised), and to prioritize functionality in learning.