Resources
About Down Syndrome: A Guide by the Canadian Down Syndrome Society
This resource from the Canadian Down Syndrome Society explains what down syndrome is and how it can effect students in school. There are three types of down syndrome
Trisomy 21: the most common type, includes 95% of down syndrome population
Translocation: occurs in 2-3% of down syndrome population, an extra part or whole extra copy of chromosome 21 is attached to a different chromosome
Mosaicism: least common type of down syndrome, occurs in about 1% of children with down syndrome, there is an extra whole chromosome 21 in only a percentage of their body cells, the rest of the cells do not have the extra chromosome
This resource also goes over the physical and health conditions students with down syndrome may experience. Conditions include; congenital heart conditions, gastrointestinal issues, increased risk of developing childhood leukemia, respiratory infections, sleep issues, thyroid problems, vision and hearing problems. This resource is very informative, I will definitely look back at this in my teaching career to keep myself informed on the types of down syndrome and health conditions my students with down syndrome may face. This website also has different sources on down syndrome available for school support staff, substitute teachers and classmates.
Inclusive Education Resources. Canadian Down Syndrome Society. (2026, September 1). https://cdss.ca/resources/education/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23670094312&gbraid=0AAAAABhtkNj9T5bq4fOc-s6RcqS64ZN4v&gclid=CjwKCAiAtbvXBhB_EiwAjwv9JmCK_BZyBxgMMHVPQ9Nwj8MMVpEMkxQ_W8g2LNmyZG0pyqEnBR0CyxoCdmAQAvD_BwE
What is Williams Syndrome?
This resource explains that Williams syndrome is a genetic condition that is present from birth and can affect anyone. It is caused by the deletion of approximately 26-28 genes on chromosome 7. Williams syndrome can cause medical concerns, developmental delays and learning challenges. This resource suggests that people diagnosed with Williams syndrome may benefit from different types of therapy and support. Before reading this article I was quite unfamiliar with Williams syndrome, now I know that students with Williams syndrome may face learning challenges but can also have strengths like strong communication skills and social skills. As a teacher I can help my students with Williams syndrome by connecting lessons to their interests and providing individualized support.
What is Williams syndrome?. Williams Syndrome Association. (2022, May 3). https://www.williams-syndrome.org/what-is-ws
Defining Criteria for Intellectual Disability
This article by the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities explains the criteria for being diagnosed with an intellectual disability. An intellectual disability is a condition involving significant limitation in both intellectual functioning and adaptive behaviour and begins during the developmental period. The article refers to intellectual functioning to a persons ability to learn, reason, understand information and problem solve. Adaptive behaviour refers to a persons everyday skills. Adaptive skills are split into three sections
Conceptual Skills: Language, reading, writing, understanding money and time, decision making
Social Skills: communicating with others, building relationships, understanding social situations, follow rules, problem solving
Practical Skills: Personal care, safety, using transportation, following routines, managing money and completing everyday tasks
This resource also emphasizes that people diagnosed with Intellectual disabilities have strengths along with challenges. With appropriate, individualized support their abilities and independence can improve. As a teacher I want to recognize when a student with intellectual disabilities needs extra support in the classroom and even outside the classroom as well. I want to make sure my students strengths are recongnized and help them develop independence and their abilities.
Defining Criteria for Intellectual Disability. AAIDD_CMS. (n.d.). https://www.aaidd.org/intellectual-disability/definition
Videos
What is an Intellectual Disability?
This video explains what an intellectual disability is and how it effects learning, thinking and makes understanding more challenging. The video shows that intellectual disabilities are often present from birth and can be caused by genetic factors or complications during pregnancy. This video also tells us that intellectual disabilities are life long and it helps with development when doctors can identify it early in childhood. This video also emphasizes that people with intellectual disabilities have strengths such as honesty, resilience and a love to learn. I think showing this video in my future classroom would be helpful, it shows students that it’s okay to find things challenging and learn at a different pace but it does not mean they cannot succeed.
How to Support Children with Down’s Syndrome
This very informative video highlights several areas where students with down syndrome may need additional support in the classroom. Laura describes challenges that students with down syndrome may face and how teachers can help support students
Vision and Hearing Difficulties: teachers can use large visuals, reduce background noise, seat students close to the front of the class and make sure they are facing the student while talking to them
Speech and language Difficulties: teachers can use pictures, signs and gestures, simple instructions, familiar language, give students extra time to process information and respond
Short Term Memory: students with Down syndrome may struggle to remember long verbal instructions. Teachers can help them retain information by breaking directions into smaller steps, using visual reminders, pictures, songs, repetition, using hands on activities and activities using motor control
Social Inclusion: Students with Down Syndrome benefit from social inclusion this could be developing friendships with classmates and learning with and from their peers. Teachers can create opportunities for students to work together, share, take turns and participate in class activities fully.
Intellectual Disability Awareness
This video shows the story of a 14 year old student named Mary. Mary has had multiple brain surgeries which have affected her ability to understand and remember several directions at once. This video goes over the challenges Mary faces in the classroom and what teachers can do to help her succeed. Suggested strategies are breaking instructions into smaller steps, presenting information in different ways and checking students understanding. As a future teacher this video shows that when teachers are patient and flexible in their lessons it can help all students succeed.
Strategies
Using Visuals for Support
A common theme in teaching students with intellectual abilities is providing them with additional ways of understanding. Using visuals in the classroom can enhance understanding and retention for students with intellectual disabilities. Visuals aids also support memory, task sequencing and independent learning. This attached website goes over the types of visual aids, what they are best for and what criteria should be met when incorporating a visual aid in your classroom.
Kuraplan Team. (2026). How to create visual aids: K-12 classroom guide 2026. Classroom Visual Aids: A Teacher’s Practical Guide . https://www.kuraplan.com/blog/how-to-create-visual-aids
An example of a Visual Aid used in a classroom
Backward Shaping
Backward shaping is a strategy to teach students with Intellectual disabilities suggested in the course textbook. Backward shaping is described as learning how to complete the last part of a task first so that a student can experience the sense of achievement. I like this approach because it can help create a positive association between the student and school work which can lead them to having a higher motivation and interest in school. Students with intellectual disabilities can often feel frustrated or disappointed in themselves that they struggle completing work, using backward shaping can give them a sense of accomplishment and encouragement.
Edmunds, A. L., & Edmunds, G. (2014). Special education in Canada: Second Edition. Oxford University Press (Page 245)
Hands on Activities
Providing hands on activities to students with intellectual disabilities can help students learn and understand concepts better. Incorporating multi sensory lessons that focus on building fine motor skills, hand eye coordination, tactile processing and visual-spatial learning can help students with intellectual disabilities develop skills and help teacher implement a UDL in their classroom. Some suggested hands on activities include
- Using Playdough to mold letters, numbers and shapes
- Using puzzles to practice grasping and matching
- Using physical objects to count
- Picture to word matching
This link from the Down Syndrome Resource Foundation has a collection of learn from home activities that teachers and parents can use to work on developing essential skills.
Learn @ home. Down Syndrome Resource Foundation. (2022, May 3). https://dsrf.org/resources/learn-at-home/
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