This document provides information about multiple disabilities in children. It defines multiple disabilities as children having two or more disabling conditions that affect learning or life functions. The prevalence is estimated between 0.2 to 0.5 per 100 children. Causes include genetic factors, developmental brain disorders, metabolic disorders, and prenatal/perinatal complications. Early assessment of areas like movement, vision, hearing, and intelligence is suggested. Characteristics include limited communication and forgetting skills. Suggested strategies include learning at individual levels, physical therapy, and alternative communication methods. A team-based approach is recommended to set educational objectives and timelines. The document notes multiple disabilities can impact development but intelligence may be average or above average with support. Early intervention

1. DR. MOHAMMAD TARIQ KAMAAL
(M.B.B.S D.C.H)
Pediatrician and Neonatologist
Multiple Disability

2. Definition
Children with multiple disabilities have two or more
disabling conditions that affect learning or other
important life functions.

3. Prevalence
 No specific data available but estimated to be
between 0.2 to 0.5 per 100.

4. Causes
• In nearly 50 % of cases there is no identifiable
cause rest causes can be grouped in.
• Genetic
• Developmental disorder of brain.
• Metabolic disorders.
• Pre, post and perinatal complications.
• Accidental and traumatic.
• Infections

5. Early assement of :
 Movement limitations
 Muscle tone and flexibility
 Seizure activity
 Vision and hearings
 Individual intelligence test
 Test of adaptive behavior

6. Characteristics
• Limited speech and communication
• Difficulty in basic physical activity
• Tendency to forget skills through disuse
• Trouble generalising skills from one situation to
another.
• A need for support in major life activities( eg;
domestic leisure, community use, vocational)

7. Suggested learning strategies
• Learning at own level with proper support.
• Create age appropriate adaptive skills.
• Physical therapy to help independent movement.
• Provide alternative modes of communication via
technology.

8. Teaching strategies
• Team of parents teachers physical therapist,
assistive technology teacher and additional
support staff.
• Specific steps to success needs to be identified.
• Timelines for each educational objectives.
• Peer tutoring.

9. Effects
 The limitations can be devastating to intellectual
and emotional development of child, but can be
addressed by assitive technology and augmented
communication system.
 It should be noted that these childrens can have
average or even above average intelligence.

10. Strategic requirement
 Early intervention starting at birth or as soon as
disability is diagnosed.
 Related services as physical, occupation, speech
and language therapy including augmented and
alternative communication methods.
 Plan and services to facilitate transition to work
and adulthood.
 Inclusion in general education with nondisabled
peer.

11. 1) Stephen Hawking
Much more than the namesake of Into the Universe with
Stephen Hawking (which is an awesome show on the
Discovery channel by the way), Stephen Hawking is one of
the most well-known physicists in the world, and he was able
to achieve that in spite of being diagnosed with ALS when he
was 21.
He can now only speak with the assistance of a computer
and has been a fulltime powerchair-user since the 1980s. His
disability however has never been an excuse to give up on
his desire to study the universe, specifically the framework of

12. Ralph Braun
The late founder of the Braun Corporation,
one of the leading manufacturers of
wheelchair accessible vehicles, and named
“a champion of change” by President Barack
Obama, Ralph Braun was a man who thrived
on bringing the freedom of mobility to people
with disabilities.
Born with muscular dystrophy, Ralph started
his career in 1966 when he created the first
wheelchair accessible van with hand controls
and in 1991 Ralph’s company, BraunAbility,
created the first accessible minivan. His
vision has brought mobility via four wheels to
millions of people around the world, and
despite passing away earlier this year, his
legacy will never be forgotten.

13. Stevie Wonder
One of the most beloved singers alive today, Stevie Wonder is a
musician, singer and songwriter who was born blind. He was born six
weeks early. The blood vessels at the back of his eyes had not yet
reached the front and aborted their growth, hence his blindness.

14. Sudha Chandran is one of the most well-known dancers and TV actresses in
India despite losing one of her legs to infection in 1981 after a car accident.
She’s what is known as a Bharatanatyam dancer, and was able to teach
herself how to dance using a prosthetic “Jaipur foot,” enabling her to become
one of the most highly acclaimed dancers in the world. A Bollywood film,
Mayuri, was also made about her life.

15. Born visually impaired, RavindraJain started singing at a very young age and
took his passion to a new high when he joined the Indian music industry,
becoming one of the most notable music directors of the 1970s. He was so
dedicated towards his work that when, during one of the recording sessions,
his father passed away, but he still did not leave the recording room until the
recordings were finalized. Apart from composing various ‘super-hit’ songs for
Hindi movies, he had also launched several private albums which were
praised by many.

16. Arunima Sinha lost her leg when some robbers pushed her
out of a moving train. Two years later, she became the first
woman amputee to climb Mount Everest. She disliked the
look of pity and sympathy in everyone’s eyes and did not
want to be looked upon as a handicapped person. She has
proved that a strong determination and will is far more
important than a strong body. Even with a prosthetic leg,
she overcame her challenges and made history.

17. Javed Abidi:
He was diagnosed with spina bifidia (a developmental congenital disorder
caused by the incomplete closing of the embryonic neural tube) which was not
operated on for eight years and caused permanent nerve damage. Further
injuries made the situation worse and made him a wheelchair-user when he
turned 15. Even this jolt in his life did not stop him from going abroad to finish
his education and pursue his dreams of becoming a journalist. He has been
actively engaged with disability rights for years, and is the director of the
National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP)
in India, and also the founder of the Disability Rights Group.

18. Dr Suresh Advani
The prominent oncologist started Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in India.
He contracted polio at the age of eight and has been wheelchair-bound since then.
Having faced many difficulties to pursue his dreams due to his disability, Advani did
not give up. His contributions in the field of Oncology have been recognized with
many awards, including the Padma Shri in 2002 and the Padma Bhushan in 2012.
He is the first oncologist in India to have successfully done a bone-marrow
transplant.

19. Malathi Krishnamurthy Holla
This international para-athlete from Bangalore was paralyzed completely at the
tender age of one after a high fever. A regular electric shock treatment for two
years got the strength of her upper body back, but below the waist her
body remained weak. Holla decided to live life in the best possible way and
chose sports to excel in. She started participating in various games at college,
and today she has taken part in various international events including the Para-
Olympics. She won Gold in 200m, shot put, discus and javelin throw at the
1989 World Masters’ Games in Denmark. She has over 300 medals in her kitty,
and is also the proud recipient of the Arjuna Award and Padma Shri. She runs
the Mathru Foundation to help disabled children from rural India.

20. Rajendra Singh Rahelu
Rajinder Singh Rahelu contracted polio when he was eight months old. Since
then, he has not been able to walk. But he did not let his disability come in
between him and his dreams. Rahelu decided to discontinue his studies after
completing high school. In 1996, a little encouragement from his powerlifter friend
motivated Rahelu to pursue a career in this sport. He started by lifting a weight of
75 kgs but rigorous training and motivation made him strong enough to lift a
weight of 115 kgs within six months. He continued to practice, and today, he has
created history after winning a silver medal in powerlifting at the Commonwealth
Games 2014