Best Professional Practices: Serving Persons With Severe Multiple Disabilities

Authors

  • Stuart J Schleien
  • Cheryl L Light
  • Leo H McAvoy
  • Cheryl K Baldwin

Keywords:

Developmental Disabilities, Multiple· Disabilities, Networking, Outdoor Education1 Therapeutic Recreation

Abstract

Recreation/leisure programming for persons with severe multiple disabilities has been a neglected area due to the ambiguity of roles and responsibilities among the various servicing agencies and professional disciplines, and lack of instructional skills among recreation service providers. This article presents a process of networking among professionals, servicing agencies and families, and the use of state-of-the-art "best professional practices" in leisure skills programming for persons with severe multiple disabilities. The application of these techniques in other community facilities, such as in outdoor education environments, is also described. Problems associated with terminology and a possible transagency definition to better serve this low incidence population are examined.

Published

1989-07-01

Issue

Section

Regular Papers