Services for Students with Multiple Disabilities

Multiple Disabilities means concomitant impairments (such as mental retardation-blindness, mental retardation-orthopedic impairment, etc.), the combination of which causes such severe educational needs that they cannot be accommodated in special education programs solely for one of the impairments.

Autism means a developmental disability significantly affecting verbal and nonverbal communication and social interaction, generally evident before age 3, that adversely affects a child’s educational performance. 

Other characteristics often associated with autism are:

• Engagement in repetitive activities and stereotyped movements
• Resistance to environmental change or change in daily routines
• Unusual responses to sensory experiences

Most of the students enrolled in these programs were served in their home district before being referred to Montgomery County Educational Service Center. Some districts are too small to have their own program; other districts refer students because their programs are full or the students have severe disabilities coupled with very difficult behavior. Because of this population, the staffing pattern in the classroom is intense.  MD classrooms have one teacher and two assistants, with a maximum of eight students.  In addition, some students’ behavior present such a threat to themselves or others that a one-on-one assistant is required for the student. This is an IEP decision. 

Many students needs additional services, as well. The speech therapy needs of these students are usually quite dramatic, requiring not only individual therapy but augmentative communication devices. The students also receive adaptive physical education and music instruction from certified teachers. Additionally, occupational and/or physical therapy are often required for these students. Many of these students take medication at school, which is administered by school staff and supervised by a school nurse. Students are referred to us by the home school district.