Many terms are used to describe
emotional, behavioral or mental disorders. Currently, students with
such disorders are categorized as having a serious emotional
disturbance, which is defined under the Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act as follows: "...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--
(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; or
(E) A tendency to develop physical symptoms or fears associated with
personal or school problems." [Code of Federal Regulations, Title
34, Section 300.7(b)(9)]
As defined by the IDEA, 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 Federal Regulation, Title 34,
Section 300.7(b)(9)]
It is important to know that the Federal government is currently
reviewing the way in which serious emotional disturbance is defined
and that the definition may be revised.
Source: Fact Sheet 5 (FS5), January
2003, National Information Center for Children and Youth with
Disabilities. (http://www.nichcy.org/pubs/factshe/fs5txt.htm).
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