PSY345H5 Chapter 12: Severe and Multiple Disabilities
Document Summary
The needs of people with severe and multiple disabilities cannot be met by one professional. The nature of their disabilities extends equally into the fields of education, medicine, psychology, and social services. Throughout history, terminology associated with severe disabilities has communicated a sense of hopelessness and despair. 1976 justen proposed a definition that moved away from negative terminology to descriptions of the individual s developmental characteristics. Then it became more and more about education. Tash (formerly the association for severe handicaps) us an association of people with disabilities, their family members, other advocates, and professionals who promote full inclusion into family, school, and community life. A primary belief of this organization is that every individual has the right to direct his or her own life. Tash works on the behalf of people with intellectual disabilities, autism, cerebral palsy, physical disabilities, and other conditions that make full integration a challenge.
