Definition:An emotional disturbance is an emotional condition which prevents people from completing everyday tasks. Different instances that can cause the emotional disturbance include: the ability to build/maintain a relationship, inappropriate behavior, moods of unhappiness/depression, or the tendency to develop physical symptoms or fears related to personal or school issues.
Federal Definition: IDEA defines emotional disturbance as: "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:
Characteristics:1. Inappropriate behavior
2. Hyperactivity 3. Moods of unhappiness/depression 4. Immaturity 5. The inability to build/maintain relationships 6. Learning difficulties More Information is Found Here: Eligibility for Special Education: Decisions regarding eligibility are made by the multidisciplinary team and the parents after assessment data has been gathered. The following questions must be addressed in deciding whether a student has an emotional or behavior disorder and should receive special education services:
Links for Evidence-Based Practices:
Suggested Activities:1. Calming/breathing exercises
2. Stretching exercises 3. Warms ups/Cool downs 4. Help achieve success 5. Progress charts 6. Counseling 7. Activities that help express emotions 8. Limit stress levels |
Identification:If a student displays characteristics of an emotional or behavioral disorder, school professionals generally address the student's needs first through intervention programs, behavior reward systems, and other evidence-based practices or strategies. If none of these efforts are successful, then a referral is made to determine whether an emotional or behavior disorder exists, whether special education services are needed, and whether those services would be beneficial to the student.
The areas of assessment for EBD are similar to those for learning disabilities and intellectual disabilities, but place emphasis on the emotional, behavior, and social concerns. The assessment must address all pertinent aspects of student functioning, use multiple measures, and be nondiscriminatory. Assessments used to identify emotional and behavior disorders include the following: Formal Assessments
Prevalence:According to federally collected IDEA data (U.S. Department of Education, 2011):
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