Why is the concept of an individualized education especially important for students with severe and multiple disabilities? Explain meaningful curriculum and provide an example of an activity or task that demonstrates the concept.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Because of the tremendous diversity among students with severe and multiple disabilities, they cannot be expected to fit into pre-existing curricula. Instead, the team members responsible for designing students' education must work together to determine what will best meet the specific needs of different students. Meaningful curriculum is relevant curriculum provided for each student according to interests, personal goals, and limitations in reaching those goals. The curriculum also must be age appropriate and not reflect the activities of much younger children. Devoting the entire curriculum to such life skills denies access to the core curriculum as mandated by law. However, for these students to benefit from more academic activities, adaptations and accommodations must be present. Student examples may vary, but may include: Dressing skills can be targeted when young children take off their shoes for playing in sand or when they don painting shirts for art. For older students, these skills can be addressed during physical education class when other students are also changing their clothes.