How to teach students with moderate and severe intellectual disabilities in inclusive and special education settings: Teachers’ perspectives on skills, knowledge and attitudes

Abstract

The present study investigated the requirements for teaching students with moderate and severe intellectual disabilities in inclusive and special education settings, emphasising the skills, knowledge and attitudes that teachers need. Drawing on investigative group discussions with teachers and principals, qualitative content analysis was used to categorise these skills, knowledge and attitudes. Key requirements in teaching this student population include skills to implement individualised and differentiated teaching, as well as creating individually adapted learning materials. Leadership and counselling abilities are also required in order to ensure successful collaboration between different actors by clarifying roles and hierarchies and negotiating work distribution and expectations. The teacher–student relationship should be characterised by an attitude of appreciation, openness and, in particular, a focus on the positive, regardless of the student’s behaviour, requiring a balance between closeness to the student and an appropriate distance. Finally, it is important when teaching this student population to care for one’s own mental and physical health over the longer term. The article concludes by discussing target-oriented strategies and measures for teachers’ work practices and further education to strengthen the requisite skills, knowledge and attitudes, particularly with a view to inclusion.