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- Autism
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- Emotional Behavioral Disorder
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- Cognitively Disabled
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- Specific Learning Disability
- Speech and Language Disability or Impairment
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Recommended Teaching Strategies
- Determining an appropriate educational program for a student with multiple disabilities can be a daunting task due to the variety of pervasive supports needed by these students. The planning process should be a multidisciplinary process, including parents, teachers, physical therapists, assistive technology teachers, and any number of additional support staff. Of course, at the center of the planning process should be the student, and the strengths and desires of the student should guide the entire process. Specific steps to success need to be identified, and timelines set for each educational objective. In addition, resources and supports needed for the student to achieve his goals should be defined and addressed.
- One area of support that can be particularly effective for all involved is peer tutoring. Peer tutoring has been proven to have positive results for students with multiple disabilities in a number of separate research studies. However, care must be taken that the tutoring is not a one-way relationship, but is reciprocal. The student with multiple disabilities should also be able to provide something to the tutoring process, even if it is a simple social behavior. Some training on both sides will be necessary to make this a fruitful support system.