Supporting Children with Multiple Disabilities 2nd Edition

by Michael Mednick

Overview

The education of children with multiple disabilities is concerned with improving their quality of life and finding ways to overcome barriers to learning. The law indicates a move towards equal opportunities and inclusive education for all pupils. Those with complex needs have the right to receive appropriate education alongside their peers, to become enlightened, enabled and empowered.

Supporting Children with Multiple Disabilities addresses the growing needs of professionals in a variety of educational settings, and provides a practical support framework for children, professionals and parents.
Techniques and methods are explored, leading the reader to find a range of keys that will empower them to unlock the door of learning for all multiple-disabled children.
Chapters focus on:


- Assessing children's abilities




- Possible problems of children with multiple disabilities




- Facilitating access to appropriate learning environments




- Supporting and including children with multiple disabilities in the classroom




- Developing mobility and motor skills




- Facilitating effective communication




- Developing a multi-sensory curriculum




- Facilitating access to the National Curriculum in mainstream education




This second edition has been updated throughout and now includes information on the Signalong signing system, visual timetables, personal passports, baseline assessment and P scales, learning resources and new technology.









This is an invaluable guide for all who work with multiple-disabled children.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780826492982
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	04/01/2007
Series:	Supporting Children
Edition description:	2nd Edition
Pages:	205
Product dimensions:	8.27(w) x 11.69(h) x 0.44(d)

About the Author

Michael Mednick is a highly experienced and qualified teacher of children with multiple disabilities and of those with profound and severe learning difficulties.

He is also a qualified teacher of the deaf, and of the visually impaired. He has a professional certificate for multi-sensory impairment and a second professional certificate in management for special education.

He has taught in a variety of special schools, including schools for children who have severe and moderate learning difficulties, and in schools for children who are deaf, autistic and visually impaired. He has worked extensively with children with acute medical needs and with children across different age ranges. He was head of a Further Education Unit for those with severe learning difficulties for four years. He has taught in mainstream primary and secondary schools as a support teacher and worked in a primary and secondary school with a unit for deaf and partially hearing children for four years. He is currently Head of Service for visually impaired children for an inclusive education authority and has been in this post for ten years.

Table of Contents

Contents

Introduction

1. Children with multiple disabilities

Terminology

Definitions

Meeting people with multiple disabilities

Key points

1. Possible problems

Disorders and delays

Problems related to medication

Eating problems

Other problems

Implications for multiple-disabled children

Common conditions

Syndromes

Specific problems for parents

Diet and behaviour

Key points

1. Developing effective communication skills

Role of an Intervenor or Intensive Interaction

Identifying 'Yes' and 'No'

Finding the Key

Selecting a communication mode

Communication modes

Tips for engaging in communication

Key points

1. Facilitating the use of sensory information and developing a multi-sensory curriculum

Function of the brain

Visual perceptual difficulties

Role of an Optometrist

The sensory system

Sensory integration

Multi-sensory curriculum

Key points

1. Assessment

Purposes of assessment

Types of assessment

General propositions

Evaluating assessment tools and procedures

Current approaches to assessment

Observation skills

Observation schedules

Task analysis

The ABC chart

Fixed Interval Sampling

Event sampling chart

Baselines

'P' Scales

Key points

1. Access to appropriate environments

The school building

A classroom environment checklist

Reactive Environments

Key points

1. Mobility and Motor Skills

Approaches to developing motor skills

Motor development

Stretching

Equipment

Sitting

Supporting sitting

Standing

Walking

Other equipment

Manual Handling

Handling Equipment

Risk Assessment

Key points

1. Support frameworks in mainstream education

Facilitating inclusive education

Support frameworks

Basic principles of working with multiple disabled children

Short-Term Planning Sheet

Weekly Planning Sheet

Weekly Record Support Sheet

1. Access to a Curriculum in mainstream education

Ways to guide good practice

Independence and Life Skill Training

Guidelines to facilitate subjects in the National Curriculum

Curriculum Boxes

Key points

1. Final Thoughts

Glossary

References