Borderline IQ and Domestic Workers

What does it mean to be of borderline IQ? Borderline is lower than below average, but higher than mental retardation. Not all, but many domestic workers in Indonesia are of this level of intellectual ability. To learn a new skill, people with borderline IQ require explicit teaching with many repetitions and example in different settings for the skill to be permanently in place. They usually have poor memory retention ability and have poor habits of the mind. (Click here for 16 Habits of Mind)

What happen when domestic workers with borderline IQ are exported to a country where the language is not familiar to them and there are a lot of things they need to learn to do and operate? Some become depressed and vent out their frustration onto their young charges. Some just trudge along, frustrate their employers, and bore the brunt of the employers' frustration. As a result, incidents of child abuse by maids and abuse to maids by employers happen on a regular basis in Singapore.

What are we to do? If you are an employer, know your maid's limitation and try to bear that in mind when you are assigning responsibilities or teaching her new skills. Here are some tips:

1. Provide step by step instruction in pictures, symbols, or diagram instead of words.
2. Break down complex task into smaller tasks and provide A-B-C and 1-2-3 chart for tasks that require certain sequence.
3. Prepare weekly and daily tasks time table.
   
4. For important tasks, provide picture or symbolic reminders.