In its exploration of key debates related to curriculum, pedagogy, and policy, "Severe, Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties in School" provokes thinking about how we reach decisions related to vulnerable learners. The book discusses a number of 'dilemma stories' from teachers of learners with Severe, Profound, and Multiple…

One of the phenomena that predicts poorer educational outcomes for young people, as well as poorer outcomes in other areas, is certainly the phenomenon of complex needs, i.e., challenges that cut across different domains, often combining psychosocial wellbeing, physical and mental health, socioeconomic background, the burden of different…

This article reflects on how the first author has adapted aspects of the TEACCH structured teaching approach--developed for use with students with autism--in her work with students with multiple disabilities and visual impairment (MDVI) in a special secondary school for students with severe learning difficulties in England. A brief overview of the…

This investigation compared outcomes in disabled and non-disabled students taking courses by distance learning with the Open University UK in 2003. Students with mental health difficulties showed poorer course completion than non-disabled students. Students with restricted mobility and students with other disabilities showed lower pass rates than…

At least 60% of children with disabilities have multiple disabilities including visual impairments (VI). Because the visual system is neurologically based, any problems of the neurological system will also likely affect vision. The estimated number of students with VI and additional disabilities has increased significantly over the years. Since…

Considerations for planning and teaching the multihandicapped hearing impaired (MHHI) student are suggested. The MHHI have learning problems beyond those associated with a hearing loss. Communication is identified as a crucial issue, since difficulties in expressing and receiving language represent their primary handicap. (SEW)

Keith Park, advisory teacher for Sense (the National Deafblind Rubella Association) in Greenwich and Lewisham, London, has written about his approach to interactive storytelling for BJSE before. This article describes a series of poetry workshops based on chapters 37 to 45 of the Book of Genesis (the story of Joseph and his family) using the text…

The paper addresses the secondary learning problems that accompany various types of cerebral palsy. Three major types of cerebral palsy are reviewed: spastic, athetoid, and ataxic. Among associated disabilities noted are disorders with the primitive reflexes (such as the moro and asymmetric tonic neck reflexes). Sensory impairments associated with…

The Special Opportunities Program (SOP) at the Kendall Demonstration Elementary School in Washington, DC, serves hearing impaired students (two to 14 years old) who have special learning problems on additional handicaps, including developmental disabilities. The SOP is also integrated with the regular program, which eases mainstreaming. (SEW)

Of 124 students (ages 5-15) with behavioral/emotional problems, 38 percent were identified as also having learning disabilities and an additional 17.8 percent as having learning problems. The incidence of learning disabilities decreased with age, but that of learning problems remained stable regardless of age groupings. (DB)

This comparison of the reading comprehension, decoding, and spelling skills of 404 children with low vision and a norm sample found children with low vision with no additional disabilities performed less well than the sighted children only on decoding, whereas those with additional disabilities performed less well on all tests. (Contains…

A longitudinal study followed perceptual and problem solving skill development in children (2-11 years old) with severe problems of oral and written language acquisition: 15 hearing impaired (HI) Ss; 11 children with a hearing loss that alone did not account for their language problem, who presented in addition so-called "learning problems" (HIL…

Clinical and psychoeducational data were analyzed for 119 children (ages 8-16) referred for learning and/or behavior problems. A learning disability was present in 70 percent of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. A learning disability in written expression was two times more common than a learning disability in reading, math,…

The effectiveness of an objective, systematic assessment and individualized programing approach for discovering new channels of learning is illustrated with case study evaluations of multiply handicapped visually impaired children with complex learning and behavioral problems. (SB)