This digest defines the term "severe disabilities"; lists some typical behavioral characteristics of individuals with severe disabilities, such as self-mutilation and lack of self-care skills; and outlines the educational implications of severe disabilities. The digest stresses the need for a multidisciplinary approach to education; the need for a curriculum grounded in preliminary sensory motor stimulation and subsequent stress on five major areas: motor, self-help, communication, social/interpersonal, and cognitive skills. Moreover, there is the need for prevocational/vocational training, leisure skills development, and daily living skills; and the need to carefully structure instruction in even the most basic skills as severely disabled individuals do not learn easily by incidental learning. A list of 11 references and 7 organizations providing resources concludes the digest. (JDD)