In this course, students will learn about the history of intellectual disability, its definitions, classification, and prevalence. They will also understand the causes of intellectual disability and the characteristics of individuals with intellectual disabilities. They will learn about assessment methods and diagnostic techniques for intellectual disability. The course aims to provide students with knowledge about the education and systematic instruction of individuals with intellectual disabilities.

This course covers the definition of intellectual disability, its history in the world and in Türkiye (from ancient times to the present), terms and definitions related to intellectual disability, causes of intellectual disability, characteristics of individuals with intellectual disabilities, classification of intellectual disability (traditional classification systems; early classification systems, classification according to intellectual abilities, educational classification, new approaches to classification; classifications made in Türkiye; educational classification, health classifications), prevalence (factors related to prevalence rates; gender, age, social variables, sociopolitical factors, prevalence of intellectual disability according to severity levels, prevalence of intellectual disability in Türkiye), assessment (framework of assessment; assessment in diagnosing intellectual disability, assessment for classification, assessment criteria; congruence between assessment purpose and process), intellectual functions and their assessment (definition of intelligence, intelligence quotient, intelligence tests, discussions on measuring and interpreting intelligence, verbal and nonverbal intelligence tests), adaptive behaviors and their assessment (structure of adaptive behavior, adaptive behavior scales), characteristics and education of individuals with intellectual disabilities. (Sociobehavioral and motivational characteristics, learning characteristics, speech and language characteristics, physical health characteristics, general health characteristics, educational characteristics; least restrictive educational environments, educational programs, academic achievement, characteristics and education of individuals with severe intellectual disabilities (behavioral and emotional characteristics, communicative characteristics, educational characteristics).