Steps to help your intellectually disabled child include: Learn everything you can about intellectual disabilities. The more you know, the better advocate you can be for your child. Encourage your child’s independence. Let your child try new things and encourage your child to do things by himself or herself. Provide guidance when it’s needed and give positive feedback when your child does something well or masters something new. Get your child involved in group activities. Taking an art class or participating in Scouts will help your child build social skills. Stay involved. By keeping in touch with your child’s teachers, you’ll be able to follow his or her progress and reinforce what your child is learning at school through practice at home. Get to know other parents of intellectually disabled children. They can be a great source of advice and emotional support.