How to Support Individuals With Intellectual Disability in an Internship

Levels of disability and ability are unique to an individual. When an individual has an Intellectual Disability, it can affect the ability to perform effectively on the job or at an internship work site. Most accommodations are simple, creative alternatives for traditional ways of doing things.

This section includes examples and suggestions for career development staff, interns and employers. Following these simple suggestions will assist individuals with an Intellectual Disability with participating in work-based learning experiences while gaining work-readiness skills. The concepts are by no means exhaustive. You and the intern you work with will have opportunities to generate uniquely practical ideas to meet their specific needs.

According to JAN (Job Accommodation Network), when considering working with someone with an Intellectual Disability, we first want to look at each person as an individual, as not all people with an Intellectual Disability will need accommodations to perform their jobs and many others may only need a few accommodations.

According to Do-IT, because a person does not use a wheelchair, have hearing aids, or use a cane does not mean that an individual does not have a disability. Some disabilities are invisible. These include specific learning disabilities or Intellectual disabilities. Some individuals may have difficulties demonstrating knowledge and understanding abstract concepts. It may take longer for some people who have an intellectual disability or a learning disability to process written information. In addition, lengthy reading or writing assignments or tasks may be difficult to complete in a standard amount of time. Further, some people may be able to organize and communicate their thoughts in one-to-one conversations but find it difficult to articulate those same ideas at a noisy worksite.

Managing Time

• Apps for Organization/ Time Management
• Calendars and Planners
• Checklists
• Color Coded System
• Electronic Organizers
• Marginal Functions
• PDAs, Notetakers, and Laptops
• Reminders
• Timers and Watches
• Written Instructions

Memory Loss

• Additional Training Time / Training Refreshers
• Apps for Memory
• Calendars and Planners
• Electronic Organizers
• Job Coaches
• Recorded Directives, Messages, Materials
• Reminders
• Verbal Cues
• Visual Schedulers
• Written Instructions

Organizing/Planning/Prioritizing

• Apps for Organization/ Time Management
• Calendars and Planners
• Color-coded Manuals, Outlines, and Maps
• Electronic Organizers
• Job Coaches
• On-site Mentoring
• Organization Software
• Reminders
• Task Identification
• Timers and Watches
• Visual Schedulers
• Written Instructions

Writing/Spelling

• Electronic Dictionaries
• Line Guides
• Literacy Skills Development
• PDAs, Notetakers, and Laptops
• Proofreading/ Copyediting Assistance
• Speech Recognition Software
• Verbal Responses
• Writing Aids
• Writing/Editing Software

The above is a sample of accommodations that can support individuals with an intellectual disability or a learning disability. However, the most important thing we can do is help individuals with feeling seen and heard by providing a safe, welcoming environment.

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Sources:

Jan (Job Accommodation Network)   https://askjan.org/disabilities/Hearing-Impairment.cfm

Do-It https://www.washington.edu/doit/strategies-working-people-who-have-disabilities