Elementary School-Aged Children With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Although elementary school-aged children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (ID/DD) have similarities in challenges and support needs, each child is unique. No two children share identical personal strengths or support needs. The contexts that children experience in the elementary years include their school, home, and community. Within each context, typical norms and expectations for children pose potential challenges for children with ID/DD. Supports to alleviate the challenges can be provided to increase participation within each context. Such enhanced participation within the contexts results in a variety of benefits for the individual child. This entry addresses the challenges that elementary school–aged children with ID/DD encounter in different contexts. This entry also discusses supports available to assist such children.

Typical or expected norms of behavior for elementary-aged children ...