Multiple Disabilities
Definition
According to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act’s (IDEA), multiple disabilities refers to “concomitant [simultaneous] impairments (such as intellectual disability-blindness, intellectual disability-orthopedic impairment, etc.), the combination of which causes such severe educational needs that they cannot be accommodated in a special education program solely for one of the impairments. The term does not include deaf-blindness.”
In other words, a student whose special needs are categorized under multiple disabilities requires coinciding adaptions for more than one disability. The exception is the combination deafness and blindness, as this pair of impairments has its own classification under IDEA.
Retrieved from: https://www.specialeducationguide.com/disability-profiles/multiple-disabilities/
Characteristics
Given the numerous disability category combinations possible, the designation multiple disabilities encompasses a broad range of traits. However, several common characteristics include hampered speech and communication skills, challenges with mobility and a need for assistance in performing everyday activities. It’s also worth noting that medical conditions such as seizures and “water on the brain” (hydrocephalus) can accompany multiple disabilities.
Retrieved from: https://www.specialeducationguide.com/disability-profiles/multiple-disabilities/
Children with multiple disabilities will typically share deficits in five distinct areas of development: intellectual functioning, adaptive skills, motor skills, sensory functioning, and communication skills. Retrieved from: http://www.projectidealonline.org/v/multiple-disabilities/
Accommodations and Modifications- Students with multiple disabilities often need substantial modifications and accommodations in the classroom. This will help them access the general education curriculum at a grade-appropriate level. More infomation on accommodations and modifications for specific needs can be found on the Accommodations and Modifications page on this site: https://budlongbeautifuldiverselearners.weebly.com/accommodations-and-modifications.html.
Educational Considerations
Most children with multiple disabilities will need some level of help and support throughout their lives. How much support a child needs will depend on the disabilities involved. A child with mild multiple disabilities may only need intermittent support (meaning, support is needed every now and again, or for particular tasks). Children with multiple, more severe disabilities are likely to need ongoing support.
Support in major life activities | When considering what supports a child needs, it’s helpful to think about major life activities. “Major life activities” include activities such as:
Retrieved from: https://www.parentcenterhub.org/multiple/
Resources
Council for Children with Behavior Disorders (CCBD) is an international community of educators which is the voice and vision of special education for children and youth with or at risk of emotional and behavioral disorders. CCBD is a diverse, vibrant professional organization that works together and with others to ensure that these students are valued and included in all aspects of life.
Article: Behavior Disorders: Definitions, Characteristics & Related Information http://community.cec.sped.org/ccbd/about/ebddefintion
Project IDEAL (Informing and Designing Education for All Learners) is a project of the Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities. This site includes teaching modules, videos, articles, and activities as part of a teacher preparation program intended to better prepare teachers to work with students with disabilities.
Webpage: Multiple Disabilities http://www.projectidealonline.org/v/multiple-disabilities/
The site, Understood for Learning and Attention Issues, contains an abundance of information on learning and attention issues. Article: Kids with Multiple Learning and Attention Issues: What You Need to Know, https://www.understood.org/en/learning-attention-issues/getting-started/what-you-need-to-know/kids-with-multiple-learning-and-attention-issues-what-you-need-to-know
Article: Multiple Disabilities in Your Classroom: 10 Tips for Teachers
https://flpda.org/independent/courses/TSWD/content/unit02/docs/Multiple_Disabilities_in_Your_Classroom_10_Tips_for_Teachers.pdf
SpecialEducationGuide.com is a resource for parents and educators with articles explaining terminology, procedures and best practices in special education. Topics covered include early intervention to ISFPs; IEPs and RTI, inclusion, classroom and behavior management; disability profiles for each category under IDEA and a Special Education Dictionary to master “SPED” jargon. Article: Multiple Disability https://www.specialeducationguide.com/disability-profiles/multiple-disabilities/
According to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act’s (IDEA), multiple disabilities refers to “concomitant [simultaneous] impairments (such as intellectual disability-blindness, intellectual disability-orthopedic impairment, etc.), the combination of which causes such severe educational needs that they cannot be accommodated in a special education program solely for one of the impairments. The term does not include deaf-blindness.”
In other words, a student whose special needs are categorized under multiple disabilities requires coinciding adaptions for more than one disability. The exception is the combination deafness and blindness, as this pair of impairments has its own classification under IDEA.
Retrieved from: https://www.specialeducationguide.com/disability-profiles/multiple-disabilities/
Characteristics
Given the numerous disability category combinations possible, the designation multiple disabilities encompasses a broad range of traits. However, several common characteristics include hampered speech and communication skills, challenges with mobility and a need for assistance in performing everyday activities. It’s also worth noting that medical conditions such as seizures and “water on the brain” (hydrocephalus) can accompany multiple disabilities.
Retrieved from: https://www.specialeducationguide.com/disability-profiles/multiple-disabilities/
Children with multiple disabilities will typically share deficits in five distinct areas of development: intellectual functioning, adaptive skills, motor skills, sensory functioning, and communication skills. Retrieved from: http://www.projectidealonline.org/v/multiple-disabilities/
Accommodations and Modifications- Students with multiple disabilities often need substantial modifications and accommodations in the classroom. This will help them access the general education curriculum at a grade-appropriate level. More infomation on accommodations and modifications for specific needs can be found on the Accommodations and Modifications page on this site: https://budlongbeautifuldiverselearners.weebly.com/accommodations-and-modifications.html.
Educational Considerations
Most children with multiple disabilities will need some level of help and support throughout their lives. How much support a child needs will depend on the disabilities involved. A child with mild multiple disabilities may only need intermittent support (meaning, support is needed every now and again, or for particular tasks). Children with multiple, more severe disabilities are likely to need ongoing support.
Support in major life activities | When considering what supports a child needs, it’s helpful to think about major life activities. “Major life activities” include activities such as:
- caring for oneself;
- performing manual tasks;
- seeing, hearing, eating, and sleeping;
- walking, standing, lifting, and bending;
- speaking and communicating;
- breathing;
- learning;
- reading;
- concentrating and thinking; and
- working.
Retrieved from: https://www.parentcenterhub.org/multiple/
Resources
Council for Children with Behavior Disorders (CCBD) is an international community of educators which is the voice and vision of special education for children and youth with or at risk of emotional and behavioral disorders. CCBD is a diverse, vibrant professional organization that works together and with others to ensure that these students are valued and included in all aspects of life.
Article: Behavior Disorders: Definitions, Characteristics & Related Information http://community.cec.sped.org/ccbd/about/ebddefintion
Project IDEAL (Informing and Designing Education for All Learners) is a project of the Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities. This site includes teaching modules, videos, articles, and activities as part of a teacher preparation program intended to better prepare teachers to work with students with disabilities.
Webpage: Multiple Disabilities http://www.projectidealonline.org/v/multiple-disabilities/
The site, Understood for Learning and Attention Issues, contains an abundance of information on learning and attention issues. Article: Kids with Multiple Learning and Attention Issues: What You Need to Know, https://www.understood.org/en/learning-attention-issues/getting-started/what-you-need-to-know/kids-with-multiple-learning-and-attention-issues-what-you-need-to-know
Article: Multiple Disabilities in Your Classroom: 10 Tips for Teachers
https://flpda.org/independent/courses/TSWD/content/unit02/docs/Multiple_Disabilities_in_Your_Classroom_10_Tips_for_Teachers.pdf
SpecialEducationGuide.com is a resource for parents and educators with articles explaining terminology, procedures and best practices in special education. Topics covered include early intervention to ISFPs; IEPs and RTI, inclusion, classroom and behavior management; disability profiles for each category under IDEA and a Special Education Dictionary to master “SPED” jargon. Article: Multiple Disability https://www.specialeducationguide.com/disability-profiles/multiple-disabilities/