Assistive technology (AT) is any item, piece of equipment or product system whether acquired commercially off the shelf, modified, or customized that is used to increase, maintain or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities" (21st Century Assistive Technology Act of 2019, p.9-10). Students with multiple disabilities in…

Introduction: People with intellectual disability (ID) face barriers to accessing mental healthcare. Individuals who have had significant experience in intellectual disability mental health (IDMH) can provide insights into strategies to overcome these barriers. Methods: This historical investigation applied an interpretive descriptive approach…

Multidisciplinary collaboration is considered to be very important for the education of pupils with special educational needs and particularly those pupils with the most severe disabilities. This research adopts a multiple case-study design in order to understand collaboration and the integration of services and the effectiveness of these among…

Research studies report a negative relationship between employment and secondary conditions. Access to health promotion programs to manage secondary conditions, however, is limited for people with disabilities due to employment, financial, and insurance barriers. Vocational rehabilitation (VR) is one possible delivery point to overcome these…

The responses of administrators and psychologists (N=129) to a survey of population, system, and program issues regarding people who are disabled by both mental retardation and a psychiatric impairment were summarized. Results indicated that services are not readily available and additional administrative and clinical resources are required by…

Described is the adaptation of the Program Evaluation and Review Technique, a method of assessing caseloads to maximize professional efficiency and service to clients, to a demonstration program for severly and multiply handicapped blind students. (DLS)

A survey of visually impaired children (from birth to age 12) in the Rocky Mountain/Great Plains region indicated that the majority were multiply handicapped, and that within this group, the greatest number were in the mild to moderate range. Data are presented on age ranges, current service delivery options, vocational and alternative-living…

Carisbrooke Day Centre was established in Scotland to provide full-time day care for 12 adults with profound and multiple impairments. This paper describes staff selection, admission criteria, student assessment, and the Carisbrooke Wheel, which outlines a coordinated strategy for the delivery of services. (Author/JDD)

The paper presents an overview of the interdisciplinary team approach for providing services to multihandicapped learners (3 to 18 years old). The model was developed to alleviate problems encountered by educational personnel serving the multihandicapped in a rural state. The model incorporates a local and a state interdisciplinary team. The two…

In an effort to obtain data on services delivered by one clinical center (Downey, California) to nonspeaking cerebral palsied persons, demographic and clinical characteristics were obtained on 66 such patients during the assessment, management, and follow-up phases of a service delivery program. (Author/DB)

The component parts of a continuum of services needed for the deaf blind individual to function in the least restrictive environment are discussed. The need for both public and private interagency cooperation for the service delivery system to be effective is cited. (PHR)

The report describes evaluation of the Bergen County (NJ) program designed to develop positive self concept, foster appropriate communication skills, maximize physical growth and ability, and provide direction and counsel in making appropriate decisions for postschool life of approximately 135 multiply handicapped children (3 to 20 years old).…

The Saginaw Valley (Michigan) Special Needs Clinic serves visually impaired children and adults, multiply impaired low vision persons, and developmentally disabled persons with vision problems and is based on a client-centered concept involving health professionals, rehabilitation specialists, special educators, consumers, and social agency…

The article summarizes the following factors identified in service provision for severely and multiply handicapped students: programmatic considerations; administrative considerations; service delivery models; assessment; educational placement; individual educational programs; and program documentation. (CL)

Team approach methods in providing rehabilitation services are reviewed and a training method for rehabilitation teams is described, based on experience in a vocational rehabilitation facility for the mentally retarded. Practical suggestions for constructive team functioning and facility research results are also presented. (MF)