Just What Is ED/BD? (3)

Our Perspective

Since consideration of the various psychiatric diagnoses for children and youth is beyond the scope of this web site --and because the site is generally oriented towards teachers, child care workers, and other non-medical personnel who work with kids in the "here and now" -- we will use the terminology of special education to describe troubled and troubling kids.  Specifically, we will use the educational term "emotional disturbance," understanding that it fails to adequately describe many children and youth with problems, and that interventions described here may prove helpful to many who have not been "officially" found to be emotionally disturbed. 

The federal definition of "emotional disturbance" dates back to the 1960's, and is quite broad and subject to various interpretations.  It 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 educational performance . . . [including]

-  An inability to learn that cannot be explained by intellectual, sensory, or health factors;
-  An inability to build or maintain satisfactory interpersonal relationships with peers and teachers;
-  Inappropriate types of behavior or feelings under normal circumstances;
-  A general and pervasive mood of unhappiness or depression; or,
-  A tendency to develop physical symptoms or fears associated with personal or school problems .

Federal Regulation, Title 34, Section 300.7 as defined by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), states that serious emotional disturbance includes schizophrenia but does not apply to children who are socially maladjusted, unless it is determined that they have a serious emotional disturbance. [Code of (b)(9)].  Nevertheless, many "socially maladjusted" children with behavior disorders have found their way into special education classrooms.