Students with complex disabilities are likely to have a combination of the following characteristics: severe intellectual disabilities, emergent and idiosyncratic communication profiles, non-traditional sensory processing, physical disabilities, complex medical profiles and/or challenging behaviours. These students will need elevated levels of adult and peer support throughout their lives. The terminology used to describe these students internationally can often include ‘students with extensive support needs’ or profound and multiple learning difficulties’. In Australia, most students with complex disabilities attend specialist schools, which are self-contained schools that serve the needs of students with similar disabilities exclusively.

Author: Tess Rendoth

• Date of Conference: 4-6 November 2024
• DOI: 10.20533/WCSNE.2024.0015
• ISBN: 978-1-913572-75-4
• Conference Location: St Anne’s College, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK