Difficulties may occur in learning, social, communication, academic, vocational, and independent living skills. Coordination, dexterity, difficulty maintaining concentration, and health issues may also be present. Significant problems in adaptive skills such as communication, self-care, home living, social skills, academics, leisure, and work activities. Onset before age 18. General Things to Remember Mental retardation is NOT a disease and it is NOT mental illness.
Students are individuals and have varying strengths, interests, and personalities.
The characteristics and traits listed here do not necessarily apply to all adults with mental retardation. Students have the ability to learn, develop and grow, although this process may be slow and with difficulty. Students are usually concrete thinkers and may not understand jokes or some of your reasons for doing something. Students may need more time to learn tasks. What you think is difficult may be easy for the student and vice versa.