When a student was termed "Educable Mentally Retarded," their Intelligence Quotient (IQ) was thought be be between 55 and 70 points. An average IQ is at 100 points, with the majority of the population falling within 15 points to either side of that mark. Students in the Educable Mentally Retarded programs were taught basic reading, writing and math skills.
Students classified as "Trainable Mentally Retarded" possessed an IQ of 40-55. They were taught basic skills and activities of daily living, and often were trained in semi-skilled trades. The acroymn TMR was used to refer to the programs these individuals participated in, as well as the class of impairment itself.
Students in this category were believed to have an IQ of less than 40. These students did not traditionally attend school, as they were thought to be unable to learn academic tasks. Education at the time did not involve the broad range of activities that it does today, such as physical and occupational therapy, activities of daily living, and speech skills. The term "custodial" denoted a need for focused care, and today has been replaced with "severely or profoundly disabled."
Children with mild disabilities such as hearing impairment or seizure disorders were referred to as "deafs" and "epileptics", and the 1921 Education Act made provisions for their education prior to 1944. Children outside regular schools, sometimes in Hospital Schools or other institutions, were termed "feeble minded" and "morons," which referred to individuals with a mild disability. Children with more severe disabilities were called "Imbeciles." Children with Down Syndrome were referred to as "Mongoloid Imbeciles," and "Idiots" were children with the most severe disabilities. Other terms such as "sub-standards" and "mental defectives" were also common.