Understanding intellectual disability
Every child has a unique set of strengths and challenges. Inclusive education means all young people can have educational opportunities and choices.
On this page
If your child has an intellectual disability, they can learn, achieve and join in at kindergarten and school. Your child can also get extra support to help them reach their full potential.
Some young people live with an intellectual disability which may affect their ability to:
- learn new things
- understand concepts
- solve problems
- concentrate and remember.
All children grow and learn at different rates. Teachers regularly assess your child’s learning needs and can work with you to put in place extra support and reasonable adjustments to support their learning.
Assessment helps education providers to understand a student’s strengths and challenges and what kind of support will be the most helpful.
If you have concerns about your child, talk to their teacher or your family doctor.
Government and community support
Supports for your child with intellectual disability may include resources and strategies for their development, education, interests and wellbeing.
Supports can come from family, friends and the community. Or, from services such as kindergartens, schools and the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).(opens in a new window)
Supports can be given in a range of settings, and by different people in your child’s life. It’s important to remember that the support your child needs will reflect their own unique profile.
How the school can help my child
Teachers make sure all learners are supported to engage in learning, understand the curriculum and show their knowledge.
For students with an intellectual disability, education providers may need to make reasonable adjustments to support the student’s participation. This may include:
- modifying or tailoring lessons
- providing extra time or using different ways to assess the student’s learning
- using special equipment or technology
- access to specialist staff.
If your child has an intellectual disability, the principal will set up a student support group. You can discuss your child’s needs, any reasonable adjustments, and keep a track of how your child is progressing.
Find support and advice
You can talk to your doctor or allied health professional about information and resources on intellectual disability. There are also support organisations and services to help you and your family:
- Association for Children with a Disability – helps families find support and advocacy services
- Better Health Channel – provides health and medical information in Victoria
- Raising Children Network – provides information and advice for parents in Australia
- Carers Victoria – information and support for carers of people with disability.
- Down Syndrome Victoria - provides information and advice for families and classroom/transition supports for schools.
Education & trainingParents & carers
Updated 26 March 2026
About the VIC Government
- The Premier and ministers
- Find a Vic Gov department, agency or service
- Strategies and policies
- Inquiries and royal commissions
Grants and programs
Jobs and careers
Arts, culture and heritage
Business and the workplace
- Mentally Healthy Workplaces Framework
- Portable Long Service Authority
- Victoria’s racing industry
- Workforce Inspectorate Victoria
- Liquor licensing, sale and supply
Communities
- Children
- First Peoples - State Relations
- Finding records
- Gender equality & women’s leadership
- LGBTIQA+ equality
- Multicultural communities
- Seniors Online
- Veterans support and commemoration
- Volunteering in Victoria
- Youth Central
Education and training
- Victorian Early Childhood Regulatory Authority
- Early childhood education – information for professionals
- Kinder: Best Start, Best Life
- Education – information for parents
- Schools.Vic - information for schools
- Education grants, programs, awards and events
- PROTECT
- TAFE, training and universities sector
- TAFE Victoria
- Victorian Skills Authority
- Apprenticeships Victoria
- Learn Local
Environment, water and energy
Finance and economy
Health and social support
- Family violence reform
- NDIS Worker Screening Check
- NDIS and disability services and support in Victoria
- Patient Review Panel
- Transforming Trauma Victoria
Housing and property
Law and justice
- Adoption
- Births, deaths and marriages
- Honorary justices
- Machete ban
- Safeguarding Victorians against terrorism
- Stolen Generations Reparations Package
- Victims of Crime
- Victorian Racing Tribunal
Safety and emergencies
- Emergency Recovery Victoria
- Victorian Emergency Relief and Recovery Foundation
- Emergency Recovery Resource Portal
- How well do you know fire
- Fire Services Reform
- Water safety
- Marine Search and Rescue
Science and technology
- Data sharing and open data
- Data.vic - discover and access Vic Gov open data
- Developer.Vic - portal for API developers
- Go.vic URL shortener
- Vic Gov IT project dashboard
- Victoria’s free public wi-fi network
- Cyber security in the Victorian Government
Sport and recreation
Traffic and transport
- Cameras Save Lives
- Transport Fines
- Getting Around
- Transport Planning
- Transport Future
- Climate Change and transport
- Future Directions For Transport
- Transport projects
- Ports and Freight
Working in the Victorian Government
- Single Digital Presence home
- Accommodation and Library Services
- Executive employment in the Victorian public sector
- Budget, procurement and funding
- Careers in the Victorian Government
- Council and Regulator Toolkit
- Guidelines for working in government
- Join a government network
- Standards and guidelines
- VicFleet CarPool
- Victorian Government style guide