EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCE
Definitionn the special education realm, conditions which generate behavioral issues fall under the category emotional disturbance. Several disorders receive this classification, as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act’s (IDEA) definition suggests. This lengthy definition reads:
A condition exhibiting one or more of the following characteristics over a long period of time and to a marked degree that adversely affects a child’s educational performance: (A) An inability to learn that cannot be explained by intellectual, sensory, or health factors. (B) An inability to build or maintain satisfactory interpersonal relationships with peers and teachers. (C) Inappropriate types of behavior or feelings under normal circumstances. (D) A general pervasive mood of unhappiness or depression. (E) A tendency to develop physical symptoms or fears associated with personal or school problems. The term includes schizophrenia. The term does not apply to children who are socially maladjusted, unless it is determined that they have an emotional disturbance. Overwhelmed? A simpler way to understand emotional disturbances is to remember that, when it comes to special education, the term “emotional disturbance” is associated with mental health or severe behavior issues. Primary CharacteristicsThe National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (often referred to as NICHCY) lists six types of emotional disturbances: anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, conduct disorders, eating disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and psychotic disorders; however, they note that this list isn’t all-inclusive. To learn about the precise characteristics connected to a child’s emotional disturbance, look into the specific subcategory that affects that child.
Given the behavioral issues related to the disability category at hand, educating students diagnosed with emotional disturbances can prove challenging. The challenge often stems from potential classroom disruptions; for instance, imagine the trouble created when a student begins crying uncontrollably or starts throwing a wild temper tantrum. |
Accommodations & ModificationsAvoiding disruptive behavior may entail behavior modification. Behavior modification can involve strategies such as positive reinforcement and incentives to help students learn behaviors that are less disruptive and more socially acceptable.
Appropriate Interventions The educational programs for students with a serious emotional disturbance need to include attention to:
Support the student’s inclusion. - Emotional disturbances, by their very nature, can make it difficult for people to build or maintain satisfactory interpersonal relationships. You can support the student with an emotional disturbance in subtle but meaningful ways, especially during group work, cooperative learning activities, peer interactions, and team projects. There may also be times to let the student work alone, take a break, or have a hall pass for some quiet time apart. Set clear behavioral rules and expectations for the entire class. - Students with emotional disturbances are frequently the targets (rather than the initiators) of other students’ misbehaviors. Having a stated, explicit classroom management plan provides a solid structure by which both teacher and students can address inappropriate behavior, understand consequences, and develop a shared approach to behavior in class and toward one another. This IRIS training module may help you set up such a plan. Recognize the student's accomplishments. - Some students benefit from working toward a tangible goal on an hourly, daily, or weekly basis. With a bonus points system, students earn points that can be saved up and cashed in for rewards at a later time. When designing a point system for students with emotional disturbance and behavioral problems, it is important to design the task and its time frame to fit the points. If the payoff is too far into the future, the student may give up on the task. Students may also be encouraged to record their progress on a chart or record sheet that enables them to see their progress toward the goal. Encourage organization and routine. - Teach students to keep track of their assignments, grades, and targeted behaviors using reminders such as assignment sheets, daily schedules and to-do lists. Help students manage their time by establishing routines for making transitions between lessons, getting and putting away materials, and requesting assistance. Students can have cue cards on their desk or notebook to serve as visual cues for transition steps. Provide time-management reminders, such as 10-, 5-, or 2-minute warnings before clean-up time, to establish time limitations for completing work. Accommodations typically associated The student’s individualized education program (IEP) will spell out what accommodations the student is to receive in class and during testing. If you’re not part of the team that develops the student’s IEP, ask for a copy of this important document. Also check with your school district for guidance on local policy and appropriate classroom accommodations for students with emotional disorders. Although accommodations will vary depending on the nature of the student’s emotional disturbance, often the appropriate accommodations will address:
Accommodation/Differentiation strategies
Resources
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