R. Dawson Griffin University of South Carolina EDEX 726 Spring 2012

Agenda Define Intellectual Disability Examine Eligibility Requirements Identify Adaptive Functioning Areas Differentiate between Accommodations and Modifications Examine Common Characteristics and their Instructional Implications Identify Common Accommodations for Problem Ares Review

What is an Intellectual Disability? Significantly subaverage general intellectual functioning Deficits in adaptive behavior Adversely affects educational performance

Eligibility Requirements Four main points to remember: – Significantly below average functioning – Deficits in at least two adaptive functioning areas – Adverse affect on student’s educational performance – MUST BE PRESENT BEFORE 18 YEARS OF AGE

Examples of Adaptive Functioning Areas Communication Community use Functional Academics School/home living Health and safety Leisure Self-care & Self-direction Social Work

Simply Put Accommodations How ex. Guided Notes Modifications What ex. Curriculum Changes

Common Characteristics and Instructional Implications Deficit Areas Instructional Implications Reading Writing Math Direct Instruction Functional application Differentiated instruction

Common Characteristics and Instructional Implications Deficit Areas Instructional Implications Language Development Language models Encourage student speech Active participation

Common Characteristics and Instructional Implications Deficit Areas Instructional Implications Attention Teacher Directed & Student Directed Strategies

Common Characteristics and Instructional Implications Problem Areas Instructional Implications Memory Meaningful content Strategies

Common Characteristics and Instructional Implications Problem Areas Instructional Implications Meditational Strategies Meaningful Content Specific strategies Active Learning

Common Characteristics and Instructional Implications Problem Areas Instructional Implications Generalization Learning Multiple relevant contexts Reinforce generalization Apply knowledge

Common Characteristics and Instructional Implications Problem Areas Instructional Implications Motivational Considerations History of success Emphasize self-reliance self-management Teach learning strategies

Common Characteristics and Instructional Implications Problem Areas Instructional Implications Cognitive Development Concrete examples Contextual learning experiences.

Common Characteristics and Instructional Implications Problem Areas Instructional Implications Sociobehavioral Considerations Direct Instruction Reinforce Peer models

Common Accommodations Problem Area Accommodation Difficulty finding the main idea Highlight Study guide Learning buddy Tape-recorded version

Common Accommodations Problem Area Accommodation Supposed to learn? Visual aids Overview Summary

Common Accommodations Problem Area Accommodation Understanding math concepts and solving problems Concrete Examples Color-code or highlight key words Calculator

What We Learned Definition of a Intellectual Disability Eligibility Requirements Adaptive Functioning Areas Difference between Accommodations and Modifications Common Characteristics and Instructional Implications Common Accommodations for Problem Areas

THE END Ask your colleagues in the Special Education Department questions if you need more information about anything relating to Special Education laws, practices, or anything else. We are here to help.