Severe Disabilities

Severe disabilities refer to those people who have a severe mental or physical impairment which seriously limits one or more functional capacities such as communication, interpersonal skills, mobility etc in terms of employment. One can have one or more mental or physical disabilities resulting from deafness, heart disease, blindness, arthritis, mental retardation, multiple sclerosis, cancer etc. The people suffering from severe disabilities depend on others support in many activities and also when they are participating in the social welfare.

Incidence

It is estimated that U.S Department of Education provides services to about 112,559children with severe disabilities in the year 2000-2001. There are various agencies who recruit very few people with severe disabilities a decade ago and many administrative barriers exist between the employer and the disabled person. Out of 2.6 millionworkers, less than 1 percent of the people have severe disabilities which are marked by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Characteristics

The people suffering from severe disabilities present a large range of characteristics which depends on the age of the person and severity and combination of disabilities. Some of the characteristics are:-

• Tendency to forget skills through disuse
• Limited communication or speech
• A need for support in major life activities such as leisure, vocational, domestic etc
• Difficulty in basic physical mobility
• Trouble generalizing skills from one situation to another

Medical Implications

A number of medical problems arise from severe disabilities such as sensory loss, scoliosis, seizures and hydrocephalus. The disabled person should consider certain conditions while establishing school services. The team was developed for the disabled people that consist of medical specialists, educational specialists and student’s parents in those areas suffering from severe disabilities are advised to work together and ensure coordination among them by providing necessary services.

Educational Implications

In the past, students suffering from severe disabilities are debarred from public schools from seeking education. But now, due to the establishment of Public Law, large number of students suffering from severe disabilities is getting admission in the public schools. The teachers are providing educational programming to all the disabled people. The student’s independence is also increased through the education. These educational programs which are designed should meet the desired needs of the children with severe disabilities.

Instructional programs such as communication, social skills training, expression of choice etc should also be given to the disabled children. Adaptive equipment and aids enable the children to increase the range of functioning. Integration with nondisabled peers is also an important part of the education system which should be taught to the children with severe disabilities.