Emotional / Behavioral Disorder
Emotional / behavioral disorder refers to a condition in which behavioral or emotional responses of an individual are so significantly different in degree and /or kind from his/ her generally accepted age appropriate, ethnic, or cultural norms that they adversely affect educational performance in one or more areas: self care, social relationships, personal adjustment, academic progress, classroom behaviour, or work adjustment. Difficulties must be displayed in multiple environments, one of which must be school.
(Council for Children with Behavioral Disorders, 1991)
Six Characteristics One or more of these six characteristics must be exhibited by the child |
Five Qualifiers All five of these qualifiers must exist for any of the six characteristics which are exhibited. |
| An inability to establish or maintain satisfactory relationships with
peers or adults. |
Behaviour significantly different in degree and/or kind from applicable
normative data; |
| The demonstration of a general mood of unhappiness. | Behaviour is adversely affecting educational performance in one or more areas; |
| The demonstration of inappropriate behaviour or feeling under ordinary conditions. | Behaviour is not a transient response to stressors in the student's environment; |
| The demonstration of continued difficulty in coping with the learning remedial intervention. | Behaviour persists after intervention and support; |
| The demonstration of physical symptoms or fears associated with personal or school problems. | Behaviour is displayed in multiple environments, one of which must be in school. |
| The demonstration of difficulties in accepting the realities of personal responsibility accountability |
The range noted above includes mild, moderate and severe emotional/behaviourial disorders.
Many of the children/youth will require the service of a guidance counsellor and/or educational psychologist.