Multiple disabilities refers to a combination of conditions that significantly impact a student's ability to learn and achieve success academically. Students with multiple disabilities generally have severe cognitive, physical, and communication impairments and require extensive support across many skill areas. Their learning is impacted in six main categories: intellectual functioning, motor development, adaptive skills, sensory impairments, health care needs, and communication skills. Developing an individualized education program that incorporates assistive technology, peer tutoring, and alternative communication systems can help students with multiple disabilities overcome functional limitations and experience social benefits.

1. Multiple Disabilities
Brittinie & Tricia
October 16, 2012

2. Encompasses a combination of conditions that may impact a student's ability to learn
and achieve success in an academic setting.
o Students with severe disabilities are typically included under this terminology.
o This disability category includes those students with the most severe physical,
cognitive, and communicative impairments.
"It should be noted o The common connection isn't that they have two or more co-existing impairments,
however,
thatthese but that they generally need extensive support across any number of skill areas.
studenis can also
have average or even Cfioracterisftcs - Six Categories that impact their learning:
above^average help develop appropriate
intelligence - instructional programs.
Intellectual functioning- Motor development-
Most have severe Significant delays in fine
Health care needs-
impairments and gross motor skills
Medical procedures,
Physical Therapy w/
medical aids, medications
Adaptive skills- orthopedic supports to
Especially self-care and improve deficits in motor
Communication skills-
Resovsrces: social skills Challenges requiring
Programs should include Sensory impairments- augmentative and
United Cerebral Palsy
Association — : self-care and self- Hearing and visual alternative communication
wwwMJcp.org advocacy components impairments are common
(essential for their Having a clear
Utah Center for Assistive ! inclusion in the understanding of their
Technology —
- - • : - • mjt .-.- :' I community) sensory impairments will
www.ucat.usoF.ataagov 7
Assistiveware —
Teaching Strategies* GOAL: AAC devices
allow students with MD to
Planning process: a Peer tutoring - Must be
www.assistiveware.cQm;. share countless emotional
multidisciplinary process reciprocal. Student with
and social benefits that
Project Ideal- (parents, teachers, physical MD should be able to
hitp://prajectfdealonliae.'- can come from a
therapist, assistive provide something to the
6rg/multipleDisabiIitias. reciprocal interaction with
technology teachers, and tutoring process, even if it
another person.
any additional support is simply social behavior.
National Dissemination ': staff).
Center for Children with Tangible and tactile
Assistive technology - is
Disabilities symbol systems:
http://nichcy.org/disabili Determining the students an effective tool for
Choice boards
Ity/specifl-C/'muitiple: : ;:; strengths and desires students with MD in
Object prompts &
overcoming functional
symbols
Determine what Resources and communicative
Physical modeling &
and support will be needed limitations.
prompting
Computer or microswitch
Develop an IEP Augmentative and
technology
Alternative
Integrate students with Communication -is any
multiple disabilities with instructional device,
other peers. Part of the technique, or system that
learning process is social serves to support and
development. bolster communication