How Common Are Emotional Disabilities?
In the 1997-98 school year, 5,303 students were classified as having an emotional disability and received special education services. This number represents .6671 percent of the 794,928 students enrolled in Arizona public schools as of October 1, 1997. Many of the students receive special education in the regular classroom with resource support. What Effect Does an Emotional Disability Have on a Child? Children with emotional disabilities (ED) generally have difficulty learning in a conventional setting. Some children with severe emotional disabilities score poorly on tests of intellectual ability. ED children are found to respond to educational models with varying degrees of success. Kauffman (1985) lists several categories of models used in teaching students with severe emotional disabilities. These include psychotherapy, therapeutic discussion, social interaction, and behavior modification. Behavior modification is frequently seen as useful in shaping behaviors that are more accepta
