This document discusses different categories of exceptionalities including specific cognitive or academic difficulties like learning disabilities, ADHD, and speech/communication disorders. It also covers social/emotional and behavioral difficulties such as autism, mental retardation, and emotional/conduct disorders. Physical disabilities and health impairments are outlined along with sensory impairments, severe/multiple disabilities, and giftedness. The document emphasizes using people-first language when referring to individuals with disabilities by putting the person before the disability.

1. MODULE 6

2. EXCEPTIONALITIES
MENTAL RETARDATION
SENSORY
IMPAIRMENTS
AUTISM
LEARNING
DISABILITIES
PHYSICAL
DISABILITIES &
HEALTH IMPAIRMENTS
EMOTIONAL &
BEHAVIORAL
DISORDERS

3. DISABILITY
Measurable impairment or limitation that interferes
with a person’s ability. It may refer to a physical,
sensory, or mental condition. (Schiefelbusch)

4. HANDICAP
A disadvantage that occurs as a result of a
disability or impairment.

5. Categories of
Exceptionalities

6. SPECIFIC COGNITIVE OR ACADEMIC
DIFFICULTIES
Learning disabilities
involves difficulties in specific cognitive processes. Like dyslexia
(reading), dyscalculia (number operations), and dysgraphia
(writing).
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
1. Difficulty in focusing and maintaining attention.
2. Recurrent hyperactive and impulsive behavior..
Speech and communication disorder
difficulties in spoken language like voice disorders, inability to
produce the sounds correctly, stuttering.
.

7. SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL AND BEHAVIORAL
DIFFICULTIES
Autism
– It is a condition manifested by different levels of impaired social
interaction and communication, repetitive behaviors and limited
interests.
Mental Retardation
– It refers to significant sub-average intelligence and deficits in
adaptive behavior.
Emotional/Conduct Disorder
- This involves the presence of emotional states..

8. PHYSICAL DISABILITIES
AND HEALTH IMPAIRMENTS
Physical and Health Impairments
-This involves physical or medical conditions including one
or more of these:
1.Limited energy and strength
2.Reduced mental alertness
3.Little muscle control .

9. PHYSICAL DISABILITIES
AND HEALTH IMPAIRMENTS
Severe and Multiple Disabilities
-This refers to the presence of two or more different types
of disability, at times at a profound level.
Sensory Impairments
-Visual Impairments
These involves malfunction of the eyes.
- Hearing Impairments
These involves malfunction of the ear.
.

10. PHYSICAL DISABILITIES
AND HEALTH IMPAIRMENTS
.
Giftedness
-This involves a significantly high level of cognitive
development.

11. PEOPLE-FIRST LANGUAGE
.
Putting the person first, not the disability.
Ex:
Person with disability not disabled person.
“Person with AIDS”, rather than “AIDS
Victim”

12. PEOPLE-FIRST LANGUAGE
.
Avoiding generic labels
people with mental retardation is preferable to mentally retarded.
Emphasizing abilities, not limitations
uses a wheelchair is preferable to confined to a wheelchair.
Avoiding euphemism
physically-challenged
Avoiding implying illness or suffering
Had folio is preferable to is a polio victim and Multiple sclerosis is
preferable to suffers from multiple sclerosis.