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Alice Frame, MA - Disabilities Health Unit Coordinator - MDHHS
Intellectual, also known as cognitive, disabilities are characterized
by limited mental and cognitive capacity and processing. Intellectual disabilities vary widely. One of the most common examples is Down’s
Syndrome. Characteristics of an intellectual disability can include limited
vocabulary or speech impairment, difficulty understanding or answering
questions, and a short attention span.
There are differences between
intellectual and developmental disabilities. Developmental disability is an
umbrella term that includes intellectual disabilities as well as other
conditions that develop in childhood. Not all developmental disabilities are
also intellectual disabilities. For example, conditions like autism and
cerebral palsy are developmental disabilities that may or may not also be
intellectual disabilities, depending on the person. Do not assume that someone
has an intellectual disability just because they have a developmental
disability.
Communicating with individuals with intellectual
disabilities can be challenging, but there are strategies to help do so
effectively:
- When assisting someone with an intellectual disability, introduce yourself and explain that you are there to help.
- Always show the person your picture ID. If you look different than in the picture, explain why. This could be something
as simple as a new hair cut or that you are wearing a HAZMAT suit.
- Speak in short, simple sentences and use pictures or objects
to illustrate the point whenever possible.
- Avoid overwhelming the individual. Only give necessary
information and break instructions into smaller parts.
- Avoid leaving the individual alone, if possible. People with
intellectual disabilities may wander and become lost.
Severity of intellectual disability exists
on a range. Regardless of any disability they may or may not have, ask first to gauge their ability.
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