EDUCATIONAL AND ADULT PROGRAMS

The Individualized Education Program (IEP) gives every child from ages 3 to 21 a free educational opportunity. Mental retarded children from these ages are accepted by the IEP and given public education. Schools are not just for children to provide academic skills; they are also there to provide social developments for normal students as well as children with mental retardation. Special programs are created for mentally retarded students. They will be handled by peer tutors or they can have study buddies who can help them learn in achieving social skills as well as academic. Their pairs will help them act in the classrooms more comfortably and securely.

For children who have mental retardation, they should be given the chance to interact with their teachers and fellow classmates like the normal students. In this way, they will be able to adapt faster and easier to their environment. Or, they should be given a special education service where they are provided with general curriculum and have access on it so that they will be able to interact with their classmates and their environment. All modifications and accommodations should be given to these students inside the classroom. They should also be given special attention in terms of how they function on their academic skills. Academic skills may involve reading, following instructions, counting change, taking measurements, and other mathematical skills.

These children should also be offered a secondary education. In this setting, the curriculum is more advanced and stronger with great preparation for their careers and emphasis on their personal skills. Having enough preparations will greatly help them acquire vocational skills which can later mold them into an important person in their society or work place. They can also be expected as people who can work with typical workers in the near future.