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 typically have severe physical, cognitive, and communication impairments and require extensive support across many skill areas, though their intelligence can be average or above. Their disabilities impact intellectual functioning, motor development, adaptive skills, sensory impairments, and communication skills. Effective teaching strategies for students with multiple disabilities include developing individualized education programs through a multidisciplinary process, using assistive technology, augmentative and alternative communication devices, peer tutoring, and tangible symbol systems.

1. Multiple Disabilities
Brittinie& Tricia
October 16, 2012
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,
that these but that they generally need extensive support across any number of skill areas.
students can also
have average or even Characteristics - Six Categories that impact their
above-average learning:
intelligence” Intellectual functioning- Motor development- help develop appropriate
Most have severe Significant delays in fine instructional programs.
impairments and gross motor skills
Physical Therapy w/ Health care needs-
Adaptive skills- orthopedic supports to Medical procedures,
Especially self-care and improve deficits in motor medical aids, medications
social skills
Resources:
Programs should include Sensory impairments- Communication skills-
United Cerebral Palsy self-care and self- Hearing and visual Challenges requiring
Association – advocacy components impairments are common augmentative and
www.ucp.org (essential for their Having a clear alternative communication
Utah Center for inclusion in the understanding of their
Assistive Technology – community) sensory impairments will
www.ucat.usor.utah.gov
Teaching Strategies:
Assistiveware –
www.assistiveware.com Planning process: a Peer tutoring – Must be GOAL: AAC devices
multidisciplinary process reciprocal. Student with allow students with MD to
Project Ideal -
(parents, teachers, physical MD should be able to share countless emotional
http://projectidealonline.
org/multipleDisabilities. therapist, assistive provide something to the and social benefits that
php technology teachers, and tutoring process, even if it can come from a
any additional support is simply social behavior. reciprocal interaction with
National Dissemination
Center for Children
staff). another person.
with Assistive technology – is
Disabilitieshttp://nichcy Determining the students an effective tool for Tangible and tactile
.org/disability/specific/ strengths and desires students with MD in symbol systems:
multiple
overcoming functional Choice boards
Determine what Resources and communicative Object prompts &
and support will be needed limitations. symbols
Physical modeling &
Develop an IEP Augmentative and prompting
Alternative Computer or microswitch
Integrate students with Communication –is any technology
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