CSDS 114 - SEVERE AND MMULTIPLE DISABILITES

Historical definitions

• Severe disabilities: communicated a sense of hopelessness and despair 

  • “Inflexibility incapacitating” or “extremely debilitating”

• Terminology today - fine line 

  • Based upon edu. Need with an emphasis on supporting the student in an inclusive setting.

Adaptive fit

an adaptive fit between the person and the environment

• What is the capacity for the individual to cope with the requirements of family, school, and community environments

• How can we adjust environments to accommodate the individual 

• Dynamic process

• Only with ongoing support

Multiple Disabilities:

concomitant impairments that may combine to cause such severe educational problems that they cannot be accommodated in special education programs solely for one of the impairments.

Deaf-blindness (impacts and characteristics)

• Impacts: 

  • communication 

  • Hearing 

  • Visual

• Characteristics 

  • Difficulty in communication 

  • Distorted perceptions: difficulty visualizing whole image or relating one element to whole

  • anticipation: lacking the context normally provided through “overseeing” or “overhearing” information and cues;

  • Motivation: missing motivational factors from situation (unheard or unseen) 

  • Incidental learning: firsthand experiences are much more effective than incidental observation group experiences

Causes of multiple disabilities

• Prenatally 

  • Genetic or metabolic 

  • Use of substances, infectious diseases, advanced maternal age, radiation exposure, and venereal diseases

• Postnatal 

  • Poisoning incidents 

  • Malnutrition 

  • Physical and emotional neglect 

  • Infectious diseases are known contributors

 Adaptive skills:

• Personal independence: eating, dressing, hygiene, living in community 

• Social interaction: communication needs

How do adaptive skills impact the child

Effects child's ability to adapt to environments independently, socially and personally

Inclusive practices for education

• Placement in general education schools and classrooms 

• Systematic organization of opportunities for interaction between students 

• Specific instruction in valued post-school outcomes