Multiple Disabilities

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Multiple Disabilities

• Susan Varady
• Jessica Wyatt
• SPED 201
• September 27, 2007

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Federal Law Definition
Multiple disabilities means concomitant
co-existing impairments (such as mental
retardation-blindness or mental
retardation-orthopedic impairment), the
combination of which causes such severe
educational needs that they cannot be
accommodated in special education programs solely
for one of the impairments. Multiple disabilities
does not include deaf-blindness. From Sec.
300.8(c)(7) of IDEA http//idea.ed.gov
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Other Definitions
In New Mexico, this means that the category of
multiple disabilities is an extremely
low-incidence category that involves complex,
inseparable interactions between two or more
disabilities and is characterized by the need for
extensive or pervasive intensities of educational
supports. Therefore, it is neither generally
possible nor appropriate to designate the
disabilities within this category as primary and
secondary. http//www.ped.state.nm.us/seo/technic
al_assistance/NMTeamManual62907.pdf
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Definitions Contd
Defining the term multiple Disabilities is easier
said than done. There is no way to cover all the
conditions and combinations of conditions
associated with Multiple Disabilities. For
some people with multiple disabilities the need
for assistance or services may only be in one
aspect of their everyday lives. However, for
others these needs not only span the many aspects
of their everyday lives, but their school years
and into adulthood.
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More Legislation
Implications of Educational Legislation In 1975
the Education for All Handicapped Children Act or
the IDEA Act formed the legal bases for all
children, including those with severe and
multiple disabilities. IDEA added requirements
that are especially valuable for those
individuals including1) early intervention
starting at birth or whenever a disability is
suspected2) related services such as physical,
occupational, and speech and language therapy3)
a value placed on inclusion in general education
with non-disabled peers. http//idea.ed.gov
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Characteristics
One of the most important things to remember when
talking about multiple disabilities is that each
disability is not separate from the other. They
act as one complex disability affecting many
aspects of the individuals life. Since multiple
Disabilities is just that, an individual with
multiple disabilities, there is no way to
identify specific characteristics other than
having more than one disability in which Special
Education cannot serve just one of the
disabilities, but not including the combination
of Deaf-Blindness. http//www.ped.state.nm.us/seo
/technical_assistance/NMTeamManual62907.pdf
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Assessment
The process of assessing an individual for
disabilities is complicated and extensive. We
are only going to touch on the main points
here. First an SAT (Student Assistance Team)
must be formed to conduct referrals,
observations, meetings, intervention plans,
progress reports, etc. After the many steps
taken by the SAT, if the individual qualifies for
special education services an IEP or
Individualized Education Plan is started to take
the steps necessary to get the individual all the
help he or she needs. Educators, administrators,
parents and even the individual are involved in
this process. Goals are established to encourage
growth and reevaluation is mandatory.
http//www.ped.state.nm.us/seo/technical_assistan
ce/NMTeamManual62907.pdf http//idea.ed.gov
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Statistics
The 26th Annual Report to Congress about the
execution of IDEA in 2004 states that there are
131,225 students age ranging in age from 6 to 21
nationally who received special education
services in the disability category of multiple
disabilities. In New Mexico, there are
approximately 1,051 Students age 6 through 21
being served under the disability category
Multiple Disabilities. There are only
approximately 66 in the same category for New
Mexico children age 3 through 5.
http//www.ed.gov/about/reports/annual/osep/2004/i
ndex.html
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Teacher Resources
Teacher Testimonial with Stacy March When
Dealing with a child with multiple disabilities
in the classroom, you must first know what the
exact disabilities might be, then find out what
the accommodations and the modifications are for
those disabilities. Starting the process of an
IEP (Individualized Education Plan) is imperative
and forms a plan of action for the child in the
classroom. I have a child in my class now with
multiple disabilities. He is more challenging to
teach than some because his disabilities limit
communication, but i have learned to sit next to
him and work with him one on one. I give him a
lot of encouragement and this helps to boost his
self esteem. He is very demanding, but a pleasure
to have in my class.
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Teacher Resources Contd.
These are some resources that may be particularly
helpful to teachers teaching children with
multiple disabilities http//www.palaestra.com/f
eaturestory.html This website has an assemblage
of activities to use with children with multiple
disabilities in the classroom from different
teachers. http//www.pacificnet.net/mandel//Spec
ialEducation.html This is a website that has
many different specific lesson ideas for use in
the special education classroom. http//www.nichc
y.org This website has tons of resources and
articles for any topic related to Special
Education.
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Family Resources
Testimonial of a Parent My name is Susan Varady
and I have a son that has ADHD (Attention Deficit
Hyper-Activity Disorder) and LD (Learning
Disabilities). He has an IEP (Individualized
Education Plan) and with specific modifications
and accommodations he has been successful in
school and is now in 10th grade. Children with
multiple disabilities can function in society
with help and modifications. He has had some
difficulties compared to children without
disabilities, but has adjusted to the
environment. It seems that children with
disabilities cope and learn to adjust with the
environment around them.
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Family Resources Contd
These are some resources that may be particularly
helpful to Parents and Families of children with
multiple disabilities http//www.parentsreaching
out.org/ This organization is by parents for
parents. It has many resources and forms of
support. http//www.ed.gov/parents/needs/speced/e
dpicks.jhtml This is the U.S. Department of
Education website. It has a section specifically
for parents of children with special needs. It
can be very helpful in finding exactly what you
and your child are entitled to under federal
law. http//www.taalliance.org/centers/index.htm
There is at least one Parent Center in each state
committed to serving parents of children with
disabilities. They will help parents know their
rights, what services are available, and train
and inform.
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Questions
Are there any Questions???
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Bibliography
(2007). Building the Legacy IDEA 2004. Retrieved
September 21, 2007 , from U.S.
Department of Education Web site
http//idea.ed.gov/explore/view The New Mexico
T.E.A.M.. Retrieved September 19, 2007, from New
Mexico Public Education Department Special
Education Web site http//www.ped.state.nm.us/
seo/techincalassistance/ NMTeamManual62907.pdf (
2004). 2004 Annual Report to Congress. Retrieved
September 21, 2007, from U.S. Department of
Education Web site http//www.ed.gov/about/repor
ts/annual/osep/2004/ index.html