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a student has more than one serious disability which may affect mobility, behavior, emotion or sensory abilities. Some characteristic challenges of individuals with severe multiple impairments are: Limited communication or speech impairment. Problems with physical mobility.

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Visual Impairment + Hearing Impairment + Mental Retardation. Visual Impairment + Mental Retardation. Cerebral Palsy + Mental Retardation/ Hearing/ Speech/ Visual problems.

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Chromosomal abnormalities.

Premature birth.

Difficulties after birth.

Poor development of the brain or spinal cord.

Infections.

Genetic disorders.

Injuries from accidents

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How do you determine multiple disabilities?

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How do you determine multiple disabilities?

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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.)

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The term severe disabilities refers to a deficit in one or more areas of functioning that significantly limits an individual's performance of major life activities. The label of severe disabilities can include challenges in one or more of the following areas: Cognition. Communication. Mobility/gross motor skills.

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A variety of medical problems may accompany severe disabilities. Examples include seizures, cerebral palsy, sensory loss, hydrocephalus, and scoliosis. These conditions should be considered when establishing services.

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Arthritis.

Back pain.

Heart disease.

Cancer.

Depression.

Diabetes.

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How do you determine a severe disability ?

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How do you determine a severe disability ?

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Your condition must significantly limit your ability to do basic work-related activities, such as lifting, standing, walking, sitting, or remembering – for at least 12 months.

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Some characteristics of multiple disabilities are curvature of the spine, difficulty starting or maintaining relationships, hearing loss, vision loss, and hydrocephalus. The prevalence of persons with multiple disabilities is that they make up 2-3% of persons with disabilities.

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What are the characteristics of multiple severe disabilities?

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What are the characteristics of multiple severe disabilities?

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There are, however, some traits they may share, including: • Limited speech or communication • Difficulty in basic physical mobility • Tendency to forget skills through disuse • Trouble generalizing skills from one situation to an- other • A need for support in major life activities.

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I understand that having a child with severe disabilities and multiple disabilities can be hard, emotional and but also many highs as well. Here are some recourses to help you when needed.

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When parents put their energy into caring for their child, they may forget to care for themselves. According to the American Psychological Association, parents of children with disabilities are especially at risk of caretaker stress and depression. Fortunately, there are a number of organizations and programs that provide support to children with disabilities and their families. With the right tool kit, parents can take care of themselves and create an environment where their child with a disability can thrive.
Table of Contents
UNICEF - Caring for Children with Disabilities [VIDEO] In a video for UNICEF, child development expert Professor Maureen Samms-Vaughan answers questions for parents about how they can best support and care for children with disabilities.

American Society for Deaf Children - Parents and Families
Per its mission to be a "source of information for people who must make decisions about deaf children," including families, healthcare providers, educators and policy makers, the American Society for Deaf Children offers a variety of resources for parents and families.This section of the organization's website has articles on how to navigate challenges and provide support for children who are deaf and hard of hearing.

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Resources for Parents of Children With Disabilities

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When parents put their energy into caring for their child, they may forget to care for themselves. According to the American Psychological Association, parents of children with disabilities are especially at risk of caretaker stress and depression. Fortunately, there are a number of organizations and programs that provide support to children with disabilities and their families.

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Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

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Parents and families want the best for their family members. The Parents and Families Resource page brings together U.S. Department of Education-funded centers, department programs, and additional information of interest for parents and families.

Visit the IDEA Statute and Regulations and Policy Support pages for more specific, searchable IDEA law and policy information.

IDEA-Related Centers

The Department's Office of Special Education Programs ( OSEP) supports projects that provide information and technical assistance to families of infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities.

These projects also support families whose children are suspected of having a disability or developmental delay or who may be inappropriately identified as needing special education and related services.

Information and assistance from these OSEP-funded projects are available free of charge. Families can find information about IDEA-specific topics through these centers.

The Parent Training and Information Centers (PTI) provide services in every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Pacific entities. PTIs are a rich source of information and training especially for parents, including parents whose primary language is not English or themselves have special training needs.

In addition, Community Parent Resource Centers (CPRC) throughout the country serve targeted, underserved communities.

To find the PTI or CPRC that serves your community or to locate additional informational materials for families, visit the Center on Parent Information and Resources.

For additional information about OSEP discretionary grant recipients, visit the Resource Centers' page or view OSEP IDEAs That Work.

IDEA Topic Areas

OSEP, along with other Department offices, Federal agencies, and OSEP discretionary grant recipients, provides numerous IDEA-topic area resources.

For Federal resources for IDEA stakeholders on college- and career-readiness standards, tool kits, topic issues in education, intervention IDEA briefs, and a resource library, visit OSEP IDEAs That Work.

For more specific resources on a variety of IDEA topics, visit the Topic Areas resource page. This resource page includes information and resources from the Department, other Federal agencies, and federally-funded technical assistance centers.

Early Learning

The Department has prioritized early learning in an effort to support our nation's youngest learners. A variety of resources and links to early learning-specific resources can be found on the Department's Early Learning Website.

Military Families

The Military-Connected Children with Disabilities page highlights resources to support states, parents, families, and others to meet the unique needs of military-connected children with disabilities and ensure the timely provision of required early intervention and special education and related services.

Disability Specific Groups

Numerous national, state, and local disability-specific groups exist in support of infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities and their families.

The Department does not endorse particular groups and organizations; however, parents and families are encouraged to contact their Parent Training and Information Center. Parents and families may also find it helpful to connect with research groups and organizations that provide information and support for their child's disability.

Other Resources

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Parents and Families - Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

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Parents and families want the best for their family members. The Parents and Families Resource page brings together U.S. Department of Education-funded centers, department programs, and additional information of interest for parents and families. Visit the IDEA Statute and Regulations and Policy Support pages for more specific, searchable IDEA law and policy information.

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What are the coping strategies of people with disabilities?

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What are the coping strategies of people with disabilities?

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Different studies revealed that there are several coping strategies among individuals with disabilities for their psychological distress. These include; sought of social support, problem-solving, physical exercise, avoidance, using social media, watching movies, and relationship with others.