Intellectually Disabled

Definitions:

1. They receive sensory stimuli but interpret or structure them very little or in a limited way
2. Sensory stimuli are not assimilated normally understood so that they have approximate way of understanding, living and structuring their environment

Classification: 

• Mildly mentally disabled
• Moderately mentaly disabled
• severly mentally disabled
• profoundly mentally disabled

 Main Characteristic

• their intelligence is limited
• the meaning of life is limited and more general
• their verbal development is very limited
• they interpret reality fragmentary
• their cognitive development is hampered
• their memory is less structured
• their shoe impulsive behavior
• rigidity symptoms\
• their self-image is threaten
• they overestimate physical performances
• increased vulnerability
• increased dependency on others
• affective competence approaches normality
• egocentric and unstable (cf. Prof. Dr. M Van Walleghem)

Deatials for pastoral care

• pastoral care among them is possible
• the hcice of conte4nt is limeited
• the main points about the Faith can be taught
• specail study of their verbal capacity is to be made: simple structures;much repetition
• language is to be supported by visual and auditive means
• historical data of Christology are less important
• pastoral experices are to repeated in other places;conveyance is hampered
• make them expericen the beautty of nature:contact, living, enlarign, religious meanign gare necessary
• visual matter concentrates on othe essence of what is to be taught
• pastoral workers shoudl be realistic
• the severre the disability the styrogher the support given by th ebelieving community sohoud be

Possibilites and limitations with regard to catechesis and liturgy:

• special attention for the use of symbols in liturgical pastoral care
• adaptaton of the liturgical and catechetical langauge is needed
• making good use of experessive techniques in liturgy and catechesis
• team work in liturgy an catechesis
• miracles are "common" to meatally disable: they are not easily amazed
• sacramental life needs special attention
• their moral foundation is weak
• the logival structure of catechesis is of less importance ot them
• group acitons are all right, but individual teaching is necessary