Best practice tips for intellectual disability
Best practice tips are strategies that have been evaluated in other settings, target a relevant factor (such as a teaching style that lowers student anxiety), or is considered best practice by experts in the field.
Provide a supportive environment
Students might lack confidence and may worry that they will not be able to keep up with other students. Praise efforts and encourage participation.
Reduce background noise when giving instructions
Avoid background noise and distractions while giving instructions to help all students hear and focus on you. You might need to face the students away from distractions behind you.
Simplify instructions and limit the information given at once
Some students might need simple instructions which may need to be repeated lots of times. Use simple words and repeat. Learning a skill might require teachers, School Learning Support Officers (SLSOs), Aboriginal SLSOs or Aboriginal Education Officers (AEOs) to break it down into smaller parts at first.
Ask parents or carers
Talk to parents or carers to find out the best way to communicate and work with the student. Working collaboratively with parents or carers can help you understand a student’s unique strengths and areas they need more support.