Mental Retardation: IEPs and Choice of School Venue

The primary goal of mental retardation treatment is to help retarded individuals function to their greatest capability and to fulfill their potentials. In order to help meet these goals, each special needs child in the United States receives an Individual Education Plan (IEP) that is developed collaboratively by school staff, social services, and family. Each IEP outlines specific goals and objectives the child is to be encouraged to achieve. Special education curriculums are then adapted to help each child meet their IEP goals. The curriculum is designed around the individual's needs and strengths, incorporating age appropriate skills relevant to their everyday life at school, home, and in the community.

The severity of each individual's mental retardation is taken into consideration when developing treatment approaches best suited for each individual. As choice of learning environments is crucial for maximizing each mentally retarded individual's success, placement decisions are based heavily on an assessment of their level of functioning.

Some mildly mentally retarded children can attend a regular school with learning support. While attending regular classes most of the day, they may also attend a learning support classroom. There, a special education professional can work one-on-one with students. Other students may stay in the special education learning support classroom for the entire day.

Special education and learning support classrooms are designed to help children learn both academic and independent living skills. Special education is closely tied to social training and vocational training in that special education classes are designed to encourage self-determination. Traditional learning environments are not always beneficial for students who have more severe forms of mental retardation. In order to ensure that students who have more severe forms of mental retardation are properly accommodated, they may be placed in a special school. Such alternative schools are staffed by special education and learning support professionals. Although typically funded by local school districts, there are private versions of these special schools as well where families are asked to pay tuition.