Background The improvement of engagement and involvement in communicative and socially centred exchanges for individuals with multiple and severe disability (MSD) presents complex and urgent challenges to educators. This paper reports the findings of an intervention study designed to enhance the interactive skills of students with MSD using an in‐class mentor model of staff development to improve the skills and strategies of their communication partners in two distinct educational settings. Methods Observational data were collected on eight students with MSD and their 16 teachers and teachers' aides (paraprofessionals), using a multiple baseline across students design, replicated across special and general school setting types. Results Results indicated variable improvements in student alertness and increased communicative interactions. In some cases significant differences in communicative involvement and awake‐active‐alert activity were observed. Conclusions These findings underline the complexity of variables involved in delivering educational and communicative interventions for staff working with this population. Implications for further research and application to daily practices in classrooms are discussed.