Multiple Disabilities

SESA Multiple Disabilities Specialists work closely with school-based teams and other professionals to help develop and implement educational programs for students with moderate to severe multiple disabilities. Student programs are individualized to meet a student’s specific needs based on best practices, present level of performance, and student goals.  Specialists work with the team to create materials, develop activities, implement strategies and foster independence. Following a site visit, the team receives a report of the events from that visit, progress toward previous recommendations, current recommendations, and steps or strategies for specific tasks for staff to reference.  Specialists are available to provide both on-site and distance support (Skype, Zoom, etc.).

ELIGIBILITY FOR SESA'S MULTIPLE DISABILITIES SERVICES
The Multiple Disabilities Program serves students in the following state disability categories: (For the specific requirements of each, view the Evaluation and Eligibility Section of the State Special Education Handbook.)

  • Moderate or Severe Cognitive Impairment
  • Orthopedic Impairment
  • Multiple Disabilities
  • Other Health Impairment
  • Traumatic Brain Injury
  • Preschool Developmental Delay
A young girl is using bar supports to stand tall while her teacher kneels behind her.
A young boy with Downs Syndrome is smiling for the camera.
Roller Blading
SESA MD Program Instruction
A young man with a handkerchief around his neck is practicing walking in the hallway.
A young boy is writing at his desk in his journal.
A young man with headphones on is copying a sentence from a dry erase board at his desk.
Young student with Down Syndrome playing with legos on the floor.
A young girl is learning how to walk with special equipment and a teacher.
A young girl is learning how to communicate with an AAC device with the help of her teacher.
A young boy wearing headphones is listening to a book on the computer as he looks into the hallway.
A young girl with glasses is reading a book with her teacher at a desk.
A young man is sitting on a pool stair across from his teacher, learning to sign.
A young man is learning job skills as he prepares the trays for the cafeteria.
A young girl is standing with support from her O.T. in the gym.
A young girl is sitting at a desk, using eye gaze to interact with the computer.
An adult male is learning job skills while loading the dishwasher after cooking class.
A young boy is playing with magnetic shapes to make a 3D house on the floor.
A young boy is drawing in a notebook with a crayon in each hand.
A young boy is squeezing hair gel from a tube into a ziploc bag with the help of an adult.
A young girl in a wheelchair looks up from the iPad as she is working.
Elementary student playing a memory card game on a colorful carpet.
A middle school student is typing a sentence on the computer with visual supports on post it notes.

SERVICES PROVIDED BY MULTIPLE DISABILITIES
Assistance to districts in the rural and remote portions of the state is provided both on and off site. For example:

Professional Development/Staff Training (On-Site or Distance Delivery)

  • Functional and Age Appropriate Curriculum
  • Inclusionary Strategies
  • Positive Behavior Supports
  • Community Based Instruction
  • Integrating Related Services
  • Transition Planning
  • Parental Involvement
  • Use of Assistive Technology Tools

Instructional Programming Support (On-Site or Distance Delivery)

  • Development and Implementation of Instructional Programming
  • Conducting Ecological Inventories
  • Identifying and Modeling Instructional Strategies
  • Selecting Instructional Materials
  • Networking Interagency & Community Support
  • Suggesting Materials from SESA Lending Library
  • Selecting and Using Appropriate Assistive Technology Tools
Galleries