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Understanding
What is Emotional Disturbance
What is Emotional Disturbance
Emotional disturbance means 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 “emotional disturbance” includes schizophrenia. It does not apply to students who are socially maladjusted, unless it is determined that they have an emotional disturbance.
Functional Communication Training (FCT)
Functional communication training (FCT) is the process of teaching meaningful and functional communication in a natural way to children with emotional disturbance and other disabilities.
Functional communication training is largely used to help teach children to replace difficult behaviors with suitable communication that’s socially acceptable. Often referred to as a positive behavior support intervention, FCT is a highly practical therapy that teaches children to communicate properly when asking for the things they need or want.
Difficult behavior may include any number of undesirable behaviors, including aggression, destruction, self-harm, escape, non-compliance, etc. FCT may not necessarily mean learning words; instead, it means teaching a child to communicate in any type of suitable way.
Changes in the amount of challenging behavior can be expected, although the complete replacement of the challenging behavior with a more desirable or acceptable behavior may take longer. This time frame will depend on the efficiency with which the replacement can be taught, the consistency with which FCT is implemented, and the length of time that the child has engaged in the challenging behavior.
Social and Emotional Training
Social and emotional learning (SEL) is the process through which children acquire and effectively apply the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions.
As students learn social and emotional skills, it is important that they have opportunities to practice and apply the skills in actual situations and be recognized for using these skills across a variety of settings. Students at CCSA who partake in Emotional Support Counseling practice these skills with the guidance counselor and other adults.
School Counseling Services
School Counseling Services
School counselors encourage and support the academic, career and social/emotional development of all students through school counseling programs. School counselors are committed to helping all students realize their potential and meet or exceed academic standards with consideration for both the strengths and challenges resulting from disabilities and other special needs.
School counselors provide direct and indirect services to students in the least restrictive environment (as determined by each student’s IEP) and in inclusive settings when possible.
The school counselor takes an active role in student achievement and postsecondary planning by providing a school counseling program for all students. As a part of this program, school counselors advocate for students with special needs, encourage family involvement in their child’s education and collaborate with other educational professionals to promote academic achievement, social/emotional wellness and college/career readiness for all.
Resources
Resources
Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA)
The ADAA is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to the prevention, treatment, and cure of anxiety, depression, OCD, PTSD, and co-occurring disorders through education, practice, and research.
Division of Community Behavioral Health (CBH)
Community Behavioral Health (CBH) is a not-for-profit corporation contracted by the City of Philadelphia to provide mental health and substance abuse services for Philadelphia County Medicaid recipients.
Children's Mental Health & Emotional Disorders
Finding organizations and resources that provide support to families of children with mental health and emotional or behavioral disorders can be overwhelming. This site provides many sites are sponsored by government, health agencies including hospitals and treatment center, universities, disability specific communities, and grassroots organizations.
Focused on individuals and families struggling with depression and suicidal thoughts, and includes: resources, symptoms, and help lines contact information.
What is Social Skills Instruction?
What is Social Skills Instruction?
Social Skills Instruction (SSI) focuses on explicitly teaching behaviors to students who show social skill deficits. Social Skills Instruction assists students in acquiring new behavioral skills, building fluency with existing skills, or generalizing existing skills to new situations. Social skills are taught in small groups (approximately 2-10 students in each group). Social skills are taught through direct instruction and reinforced through practice during social skills groups and in natural settings.
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