Support for pupils with multiple disabilities
When physical, intellectual and sometimes psychological needs come together, your child needs more than just occasional help at school – they need reliable support that is there to help them think things through throughout the day. We take a close look at what your child really needs and work with you to facilitate their participation step by step. Our guiding principle is: as much support as necessary, as little as possible.
How multiple disabilities manifest in everyday school life
Complex support needs are as individual as every child – yet we encounter these situations frequently.
- Multiple needs at the same time: physical, intellectual and, at times, mental needs come together and influence one another – learning, physical activity and well-being cannot be considered in isolation.
- High need for assistance and structure: From the start of the lesson right through to break time, your child needs reliable support, clear routines and, often, continuous one-to-one support.
- Communication that requires support: Spoken language is often not enough; facial expressions, sign language, symbols or speech-generating devices act as a bridge, enabling your child to express themselves and have a say.
- Care needs and mobility: Positioning, assistive devices, toilet visits or moving between rooms all play a part in shaping the daily routine and require time and care.
- Many people involved: Parents, schools, therapists, doctors and funding bodies are all involved – participation can only succeed if everyone works together effectively.
How our support helps
We focus on the specific areas where your child needs support in their daily life – whilst keeping their participation in mind.
- Clear structures provide security: We make the school day predictable and well-organised so that your child can find their bearings and maintain the energy needed for learning → Structuring
- Facilitating communication: We use and promote supported communication so that your child is understood and can express themselves → Supported communication
- Involving your child: We ask questions, observe closely and tailor our support to what your child wants and is capable of → Participation
- Connecting all those involved: We coordinate closely with parents, the school and therapy teams to ensure that the participation plan is a unified effort → Cooperation
- Independence as the goal: We withdraw our support as soon as your child no longer needs it.
Where medical and nursing care is required, we are honest: school support helps with structure, participation, communication and attentive observation – but it is no substitute for qualified (specialist) nursing care. Depending on the provider, treatment-related care tasks require specially trained or qualified nursing staff. We’ll discuss openly with you what our support covers and what should be handled by others before we begin.
Legal basis & application
In the case of a physical and/or mental disability, integration support is generally considered as a service to facilitate participation in education – the social services department is usually responsible, and the legal basis is Section 112 of SGB IX. The relevant funding body decides whether school support is appropriate and eligible for approval in each individual case. We will guide you through the entire process.
Qualifications of our support workers
Our school support workers undergo a multi-stage selection process before they are assigned to a child. At our own Splash Academy, we prepare them specifically for their role and provide indication-specific training – particularly in relation to complex support needs, assisted communication and working as part of a large team. This ensures your child is in experienced hands right from the start.
Frequently asked questions
My child has multiple disabilities – is a single school support worker really enough?
In many cases, yes: a well-prepared school support worker covers structure, assistance, communication and participation. Where additional medical or nursing care is required, we’ll work with you to clarify what further support is needed – honestly and without false promises.
Do school support workers also carry out nursing or medical tasks?
A school support worker provides support with daily life, structure and participation, and can help with simple tasks. Medical care – such as administering medication or specific medical procedures – requires qualified (specialist) nursing staff or special training, depending on the provider, and is not a standard service provided by school support workers. We will discuss in advance what is possible in each individual case.
My child doesn’t speak, or speaks very little – how can support work in this situation?
That’s fine, as communication takes many forms. We use facial expressions, sign language, symbols or speech computers and promote augmentative and alternative communication so that your child can be understood and have a say.
Who is responsible for the application?
In cases of physical and/or intellectual disability, integration support is usually the responsibility of the social services department (Section 112 of Book IX of the Social Code). The funding body makes the final decision on a case-by-case basis. We’ll support you every step of the way.
How do you coordinate with the school, therapists and doctors?
We see ourselves as part of a team. We liaise regularly with all those involved, share our observations and ensure that your child’s participation plan is well-coordinated.
Let’s talk about your child
In a free initial consultation, we’ll clarify your child’s needs, the application process and the next steps – with no obligation.
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Our own Splash Academy · Multi-stage selection process · Support at mainstream and special schools
This page is for information purposes only and does not replace medical or legal advice. The decision as to whether school support is suitable and eligible for funding is made by the relevant funding body on a case-by-case basis.