Intellectual Disabilities Teacher Resources

Here is a great little reading and vocabulary development lesson created just for learners with special needs. The lesson is constructed with both core content and necessary adaptations in mind. The group will use PECS, pointing/gesture,...

Whose responsibility is it to protect equal rights? Class members engage in a series of activities that create awareness of the prejudice and intolerance persons with disabilities face. They then create a message addressed to their...

When you have an inclusive classroom it is important to help your general education students understand their peers with disabilities. This packet provides information and activities to assist elementary-aged children in building a...

Here is an excellent and well-developed lesson intended to promote choice-making skills for learners with visual impairment and intellectual disabilities. It fosters choice-making skills through a soft version of discrete trial training,...

What does it feel like to be the victim of intolerance? Class members engage in activities, watch a video, and reflect on their own experiences with intolerance or discrimination before creating a project designed to combat intolerance...

Playing pretend with real objects or concepts is a wonderful way for learners to make object-to-action connections, as well as practice daily living skills. Learners with visual and intellectual disabilities use a wide variety of real...

What kid doesn't love talking on the phone? Learners with visual and intellectual disabilities get comfortable using several types of telephones. They begin by examining the phone, dialing, answering the phone, and then they work into...

Expressing one's wants and needs is vital for learners of any age or ability level. Young children with visual impairments and intellectual disabilities practice asking for preferred items, foods, or activities in a structured manner....

Turn the act of following directions into a fun and engaging game! Especially designed for students with cognitive or intellectual disabilities, this instructional activity uses a game format as a natural reinforcer. Write a set of...

Introduce your learners to the letters of the alphabet. They will tap to hear the name of each letter and see a word beginning with that letter appear on the screen. The highly repetitive nature of this app could be a good way to...

Students explore different federal laws promoting the education for the handicapped. In this literacy lesson, students brainstorm how they can help individual with Down syndrome. They read a fiction book related to the topic and discuss...

From bunny hops and bridges to bean bag tosses and big ball catches, your activity toolkit will be overflowing with great new ideas for adaptive physical education!

Here is a fantastic compilation of adaptive physical education lesson plans that cover the major concepts of physical fitness, including: aerobic endurance, balance, coordination, flexibility, power, speed and agility, and strength.   

Keep your mind and body fit with a fun activity about the five food groups. After going over the functions of fruit, vegetables, grains, meats and beans, and dairy, as well as oils and fats, learners participate in a bean bag toss to...

Students write a diary entry as if they were a student at one of the state schools that had different methods of instruction for students with disabilities. in this disabilities lesson plan, students research these schools on website.

Students explore educational offerings for people with disabilities. In this social studies lesson, students research early schools for people with disabilities and discuss the advertisements that were used at the time. Students create...

Young scholars discuss programs designed for people with disabilities. In this language arts and social studies instructional activity, students discuss programs started by the Kennedy family and create posters in order to share their...

Learners practice using a digital camera and identify the various parts. As a class, they review recent vocabulary and signs used in their community. In groups, they take pictures of various items and write complete sentences describing...

Learners discuss shapes and their characteristics. As a class, they explore shapes made from a square. Students explore triangles, squares, fractions of a square such as a half and a quarter. Individually, they complete worksheets, and...

Students measure the dimensions of different sizes of paper. Using a copy machine, they discover dilations. After enlarging and shrinking particular copies, students examine rates, ratios and percentages and discover the relationship of...

Students measure the length and width of various sizes of envelopes. After comparing the envelopes, they explore the ratios, percentages, and rates. Students discuss postal rates and compare the cost of mailing items, delivery times, and...

Students are engaged in the making of a felt pouch. They complete the project with the aid of the teacher because the lesson is meant for the Special Education population. Students answer the following focus question to set the context,...