Frameworks

MULTIPLE DISABILITIES

Authorities: 34 C.F.R. Part 300; 19 T.A.C. Chapter 89

Additional Resources

DOCUMENT/
PRACTICE

FEDERAL AND STATE REQUIREMENTS

CITATIONS

The child must be assessed in all areas of suspected disability.

300.304(c)(4)

The local educational agency must comply with EVALUATION PROCEDURES.

In Texas, the group of qualified professionals that determines whether the child is a child with a disability and the educational needs of the child is the child's ADMISSION, REVIEW, AND DISMISSAL COMMITTEE.

89.1040(b)
89.1050(a)(5)

EVALUATION PROCEDURES

The group of qualified professionals that collects or reviews evaluation data in connection with the determination of the child's eligibility based on a multiple disabilities impairment must include the members required in two or more of the applicable specific eligibility frameworks.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Multiple disabilities means impairments occurring at the same time (such as intellectual disabilities-blindness or intellectual disabilities-orthopedic impairment), the combination of which causes such severe educational needs that they cannot be accommodated in special education programs solely for one of the impairments.

300.8(c)(7)

In meeting the criteria for multiple disabilities, a child with multiple disabilities is one who has a combination of disabilities and who meets all of the following conditions:

89.1040(c)(6)(A)

The disabilities are expected to continue indefinitely; and

89.1040(c)(6)(A)(i)

The disabilities severely impair the child's performance in two or more of the following areas:

89.1040(c)(6)(A)(ii)
300.8(c)(7)

Psychomotor skills;

89.1040(c)(6)(A)(ii)(I)

Self-care skills;

89.1040(c)(6)(A)(ii)(II)

Communication;

89.1040(c)(6)(A)(ii)(III)

Social and emotional development; or

89.1040(c)(6)(A)(ii)(IV)

Cognition.

89.1040(c)(6)(A)(ii)(V)

A child who has more than one disability but who does not meet the criteria must not be classified or reported as having multiple disabilities.

89.1040(c)(6)(B)

Multiple disabilities does not include deaf-blindness.

300.8(c)(7)

Last Updated: Tuesday, April 18, 2017