INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT OF INDIVIDUALS WITH MULTIPLE DISABILITIES IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF SPECIAL EDUCATION

The aim of this paper is to discuss recent problems and challenges in institutional care for people with multiple disabilities in the Czech Republic. Four institutions from the educational resort and four institutions from the social care resort participated in this study. These institutions (special schools and resident houses) employ various interdisciplinary teams that include teachers, social workers, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and others. The system of interdisciplinary cooperation, documentation, professional responsibilities and hierarchy in the teams were targeted in this study as it seems these are the major challenges of institutional support. The role of special educators in the team is also discussed.

At the beginning of the paper the current system of care for people with multiple disabilities in the Czech Republic is presented and some recent problems of institutional care are discussed. Several examples are offered that are taken from a study realised by the authors. Eight professionals from special schools and social facilities for people with multiple disabilities were interviewed. They were asked to elucidate on the role of special educators in their institutions, the coordination of educational interventions in the interdisciplinary care, the documentation and the ways of sharing information about their students. Information about the interdisciplinary support of individuals with multiple disabilities was also collected. These data were analysed using open coding and models of institutional support and interdisciplinary care were formed, one for each institution. These models were then compared and the analysis led to the identification of solutions to problems. These are presented in the paper and adjustments in institutional support of people with multiple disabilities in the Czech Republic are suggested.