Persons with Profound Multiple Disabilities
Individuals with profound multiple disabilities form a heterogeneous group. The 'core group' consists of individuals with such profound mental disabilities that no existing standardized tests are applicable for a valid estimation of there level of intellectual capacity and who often possess profound neuromotor dysfunctions like spastic tetraplegia as well. Apart from profound intellectual and physical disabilities, it is presumed that they frequently have sensory impairments. Individuals with PMD form a physically very vulnerable group of persons with a heavy or total dependence on personal assistance for every day tasks, 24 hours a day.
The described 'core group' has some overlap with two other 'groups'. The first 'group' consists of persons who are at the extreme lower end of the continuum of profound mental disabilities and who also possess physical impairments due to dysfunction of certain organs or physical inactivity. The second group consists of persons with motor disabilities as a result of spasticity and skeletal deformities but 'only' severe mental disabilities.

Plans for the near future
A Roundtable - conference for members of this SIRG will be held in Amsterdam on the 20th and 21st of March, 2003.

PMD SIRG Board members
Chair:
Prof. Han Nakken Ph. D.
Professor of Special Education
University of Groningen
Groningen, The Netherlands

Deputy Chair:
Dr. Carla Vlaskamp Ph. D.
Professor of Special Education
University of Groningen
Groningen, The Netherlands

Secretary:
Dr. Bea Maes (secretary)
Prof. Of special education
Catholic University of Leuven
Leuven, Belgium

Members:

Steven Carnaby
Clinical Psychologist in Training and
Honorary Lecturer in Learning Disability
University of Kent
London, England

Barbara Fornefeld Ph. D.
Professor of Specail Education
Köln, Germany

Mats Granlund Ph. D.
Professor of Psychology
Stockholm, Sweden

Paul Pagliano Ph. D.
Senior Lecturer Special Education
School of Education
Townsville, Australia

Sylvie Rocque
Researcher in the field of social practice
Université de Montréal
Faculté des Sciences de l'Education
Montreal, Canada

Knut Slåtta
Special Psychologist
Torshov Resource Center for Special Education
Oslo, Norway

You may download the Newsletter here for more information concerning this SIRG. You will find a list of the members and some of the more important propsed upcoming events.
Individuals with Profound Multiple Disablilites


You are invited to join this SIRG by contacting Carla Vlaskamp who is on IASSID council at c.vlaskamp@ppsw.rug.nl