MULTIPLE DISABILITIES

Definition: A combination of disabilities, such as mental retardation and orthopedic impairment, that cannot be served in programs for either individual disability alone.

Causes: Obviously, the causes can vary greatly. Sometimes they may be the result of the same things- such as a genetic disorder, illness, or accident, other times, they may be unrelated, for example, a person with a mental illness who is in an accident and becomes physically disabled.