Therapies for PMLD

What is PMLD?

As the PMLD Network says, people with profound and multiple learning difficulties (PMLD) are unique individuals, but they share common concerns: they have distinctive needs, face barriers to being included and need help to fight for their equal rights. 

People with PMLD have more than one disability, have profound learning difficulties, have difficulties communicating, need high levels of support and may have additional sensory impairments and complex health needs. The combination of these complex needs means that all children and adults with PMLD require high levels of support in most aspects of their daily lives. As well as the need to meet these care requirements, for children and young people with PMLD, there is the additional challenge of providing access to an education which is as full of opportunities, learning and fun as that of their mainstream counterparts.   

Meeting complex health needs

In addition to meeting a learner’s therapeutic needs, professionals working with children and young people with PMLD often have to manage their complex medical needs. Neurological, respiratory, gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal and immune system problems are not uncommon for our learners and present barriers to their access to education.