“Schools implementing (Understanding Our Differences) report a generalized spin-off effect: Kids are nicer to all their peers.”

Thomas Lickona, PhD
“Educating for Character: How Schools Can Teach Respect and Responsibility”

Intellectual Disabilities

This unit introduces the concept of intellectual disabilities, and helps students understand the causes and how they affect the functioning of the brain. Students learn that people with intellectual disabilities have hopes, dreams, and goals like everyone else and are able to live very productive lives.

Key themes:

• People with intellectual disabilities learn and develop in the same orderly way as others but do so more slowly.
• People with intellectual disabilities confront multiple challenges, including language, academic and motor skills, and activities of daily living.
• Name-calling is hurtful and cannot be confronted passively. Students are encouraged to be a friend and an ally.
• The importance of sensitivity and respect for children and adults with intellectual disabilities is emphasized.

Program implementation is flexible and can be adapted for your classroom, but a typical 2-hour session includes:

ACTIVITY	DESCRIPTION
Informational PowerPoint presentation	Students learn about the concept and causes of intellectual disabilities.
Two small group activities	A hands-on activity teaches how people develop and learn. An anti-bullying activity addresses hurtful name-calling.
PowerPoint: “Neighbors”	Slides highlight adults with intellectual disabilities at home, work and leisure activities.
DVD	Three stories highlight children with intellectual disabilities at school and leisure activities.
Guest speaker	Students meet a guest speaker who shares the experience of living with an intellectual disability.