Situation of Children with Intellectual
Disability in Ethiopia
Presentation Layout
I.
Understanding Children with Intellectual Disability
II. Prevalence and etiological issues
III. Developmental effects of intellectual disability
IV. Educational situation of (CwIDs)
V. Early identification & intervention practices
1. Understanding CwIDs
1.2 CwIDs:AAMR/Definition
1.
Intellectual limitations
2.
Limitation in adaptive skills
3.
Manifests under age 18
1.2
AAMR/Definition
1.Intellectual limitations




Mild
Moderate
Severe
Profound
IQ : 50 to 70
IQ :35 to 49
IQ :20 to 34
IQ : < 20
1.2 AAMR/Definition
2.Limitation in adaptive skills in two
or more of the following:
• Communication & Self-care
• Health & safety
• Functional academics
• Leisure and work
1.2 AAMR/Definition
3.Manifests before age 18

Manifested during childhood
period
2. Educational understanding CwIDs
Learning characteristics




Educable
Trainable
Supportable
Life support/Self-care training
3. Causes of intellectual
disability
2.1 Organic/Physiological Factors





Hereditary (genetic) & hormonal & Metabolic
disorders such as :
Cretinism(Hypothyroidism)
Down’s syndrome
Hydrocephaly
Microcephaly
3. Causes of intellectual
disability
2.2 Cultural-Familiar Factors







Environmental influences such as :
Child Management
Malnutrition
Psychosocial deprivation
Labor complication at delivery
Accident(falling down)
Severe punishment etc
4. Onset of intellectual disability
in Ethiopia
First 6 years of life
At birth
4 months – 2
3 – 6 years
Unidentified
years
23 %
27 %
12 %
58%
5. Causes of ID in Ethiopia
Genetic
8%
Unidentified
58%
Birth
complication
15%
injury and/or
Illness
19%
6.Developmental profiles of
CwIDs
6.1 Cognitive and Language
• Learning Characteristic
• Limitations on attention span, pace of learning,
memory, transfer of learning, comparing, imitation,
speech and language development etc.
6. Developmental Profile of
CwIDs
6.2 Physical/Motor Characteristics





Body awareness in space
Basic physical abilities(flexibility, agility,
balance & endurance)
Sequential patterns of movement
Eye-hand coordination
Eye-foot coordination
6.Developmental profiles of
CwIDs
6.3. Social-emotional
 Inter-individual variation

No particular emotional behavior
Poor judgment
 Agressive
 Inappropriate behavior

6.Developmental profiles of
CwIDs
6.4 Adaptive behaviors in schools
 Lack of school coping behaviors related to
attention to learning tasks,
 Poor social & language skills
 Poor self-care skills in personal hygiene
and dress, poor maintenance personal
belongings, and poor mobility in and about
the school.
7. Educational Situation of
CwIDs
8. Early Intervention Programs



Focus on:
Home-based support
School-based support
QUESTIONS TO PONDER

How do people in your community perceive
persons with ID? (Anthropology)

How do you understand mental illness and
intellectual disability ? What are their specific
features? (Psychology)

Discuss the social and interpersonal relations of
children with intellectual disability (ID). (Social
work and international relations)
QUESTIONS TO PONDER
1.
Discuss the cognitive and academic
characteristics of children with
intellectual disability . (Education &
Pedagogy)
2.
Discuss about the adaptive behavior and
language development of children with
intellectual disability. (Language)
QUESTIONS TO PONDER

How does motor dysfunction affect
the social and interpersonal
relationship of children?

What do you understand by barrier
free environment? Consider the
school and home environment?
Thank You !!