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Having a child with intellectual disability (ID) is, more often than not, viewed negatively. It comes with a sense of dread, hopelessness and even helplessness.

The narrative that having a child with ID is pitiful and to some people, disastrous, is often the single psychological barrier that prevents the child and his or her family from living a more fulfilling life.

While it is undeniable that life becomes more difficult when a child is diagnosed with ID, living under the cloud of pity doesn’t help. What is important is to understand that there are many things parents can do to facilitate their child’s development into a healthy and valuable member of the community.

Such efforts should also be carried out together, in collaboration with professionals, industries and the community.

Before we look at how collaborative efforts can benefit individuals and families living with ID, let’s have a look at what ID is and how it is determined.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), ID is a condition characterised by significant limitations in intellectual functioning and adaptive behaviour skills, both occurring before adulthood.

Intellectual functioning is usually measured by intelligence quotient (IQ), using a comprehensive cognitive test such as the Stanford-Binet or Wechsler tests of intelligence.

Adaptive behaviour skills include communication, daily living, socialisation and motor movement skills. They are assessed using adaptive behaviour tests such as the Vineland Adaptive Behaviour Scales. An IQ below 70 (average IQ is 100) and a significant lack of independence in age-appropriate adaptive behaviour skills are criteria of having ID.

These tests are typically carried out by a professional psychologist with clinical, developmental or educational specialty to determine if an individual meets the criteria of ID.

In the absence of a psychologist, medical specialists such as developmental paediatricians and child psychiatrists may provide their professional assessments to diagnose ID.

Intervention methods

So, what can be done to remedy ID? The recommended interventions include active focus on developing adaptive behaviour skills such as functional communication, self-care, domestic, community and social skills. A number of professionals will be involved in the teaching of these skills in collaboration with the parents.

They include occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, special education teachers and psychologists (either clinical, educational and developmental).

The main objective of these intervention is to develop the necessary skills in individuals with ID to live a meaningful and fulfilling life despite their diagnosis.

From my experience in academia and attending numerous conferences in special education needs and developmental disabilities, I am very convinced that it is very possible for individuals living with ID can achieve such success.

Apart from the usual special education, occupational therapy and other supportive interventions, I also believe that active participation in sports should be part of a holistic approach to improving adaptive behaviour and overall quality of life of children with ID.

I was recently introduced to the Special Olympics movement that has a chapter in Malaysia. It is different from Paralympics, which is an elite sports competition.

Special Olympics is a global sports platform that provides opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities to socialise and enjoy sports, while also improving their fitness to reduce health risks.

Special Olympics has initiatives to screen athletes for various health conditions so that they can receive interventions where needed and also share tips for healthy living.

Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities have higher risks of physical health problems that go undiagnosed because they tend to also have less access to healthcare for various reasons.

Healthy solution

Decades of research within the Special Olympics show that sports provide very healthy and active solutions for improving the quality of lives of people living with ID and also their families.

Taking part in sports has been shown to tremendously improve independence, health literacy, self-efficacy and well-being for the whole family.

Why might sports be beneficial for ID? Firstly, we know from research that children with ID are more likely than those who are typically developing, to have physical health problems given their genetic vulnerabilities. Sports can provide an avenue to get healthy and stay fit.

Fitness reduces the risks of health problems in individuals with ID. It also improves physical health, cognitive function and emotional regulation.

Apart from cardiovascular health, fitness helps with muscular strength as well as bodily movement and coordination, all of which help in learning daily adaptive behaviour skills.

An example can be seen in a recent collaborative study by Anglia Ruskin University and the Canadian Down Syndrome Society that discovered how regular walking alone can be a good enough exercise to improve attention and concentration, memory and decision- making skills.

Imagine how learning can be enhanced with such improvements in cognitive function with the addition of exercise to the usual special education syllabus.

Holistic achievement

What I like most about the idea of sports for children with ID is how sporting events provide great opportunities to develop many elements that contribute to human success beyond just intelligence, such as empathy, creativity, emotion regulation, social skills, perseverance and character.

Children with ID tend to be isolated from society and have few friends. They are also vulnerable to bullying. This would eventually disempower them as they grow into adulthood, compounding their existing risks of health problems. Sports can facilitate inclusive friendships and positive interactions that are also empowering and protective.

My training to be a clinical director at Special Olympics Malaysia exposed me to amazing evidence of how athletes with ID can develop into impactful community leaders who will, in turn, empower others, including myself.

Such leadership among athletes with ID shows that with adequate social, systemic and policy support, anyone, regardless of intellectual ability can improve his or her life. Sports is a fantastic platform to facilitate such improvements.

We need to give sports a go in addressing ID. With avenues available to improve the lives of these individuals, there is no need to feel sorry for families living with ID. Instead, we should support and help them, with the belief that each one of us can live meaningful lives.

Professor Alvin Ng Lai Oon
School of Medical and Life Sciences
Email: @email

This article was first published in The Star, 1 Jan 2024.