The participation of children with multi-sensory impairment in person-centred planning

Consultation with pupils with learning disabilities through the use of person-centred planning methods is becoming increasingly common. However, little research has focused on pupils with multi-sensory impairment (MSI). Kim Taylor has taught children with special educational needs for over 25 years and holds a post-graduate diploma in multi-sensory impairment. In this article, she suggests that the characteristics of MSI affect the capacity of some pupils to participate in person-centred planning. Kim Taylor presents case studies in which she investigates the impact that the characteristics of MSI have upon adults' abilities to elicit the views of children with MSI about their experiences in the classroom. The article provides an analysis of the factors that maximised the children's involvement and participation and a commentary on the trustworthiness of the outcomes of the consultation processes described. At the end of her article, Kim Taylor commits herself to implementing improved approaches in the classroom and calls upon other practitioners to follow her example.