History of Emotional Disturbance

By julierose

  • International Council organized

    International Council for the Education of Exceptional Children was organized and relevant in educating students with emotional and behavioral disabilities. Elizabeth E. Farrell was the founder and first president of the International Council for the Education of Exceptional Children. Faculty members and a group of administrators who went to a summer session at Teachers College at Columbia University, on August 10, 1922, organized the council on August 10, 1922.

  • Brown vs. Board of Education

    In this case, it was argued that segregation, because of a person’s unalterable characteristics (race, disability, etc.) was unconstitutional. This case allowed for others to argue that students with disabilities have the same rights as their non-disabled peers. The Brown decision allowed for advocates and parents to argue that because education is so important in our society, a disability should not exclude a student from public education.

  • Council for Exceptional Children

    The Council started with 12 members, and it was renamed in 1958 as the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC).

  • The Term "Emotional Disturbance"

    The term “emotional disturbance” was first developed by Eli Bower in the 1960s, who did research on identifying students who needed services because of severe emotional and behavioral problems

  • Community Mental Health Act

    In 1963, Public Law 88-164 was passed which provided federal money for support of personnel preparation in the area of the emotionally disturbed

  • Mills vs. BOE

    This case established that "all children are entitled to free public education and training appropriate to their learning capacities"

  • The Passing of Education for all Handicapped Children Act (EHC) and the definition of Emotional Disturbance

    A condition exhibiting one or more of the following characteristics
    (A) 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.

  • Honig vs. Doe

    It interpreted the Education of the Handicapped Act to prohibit state or local schools from excluding disabled children from the classroom for dangerous or disruptive conduct growing out of their disabilities. The child should remain in the current placement during any review of proceedings.

  • EHC renamed to IDEA

    EHC was renamed as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act in 1990. This reauthorization expanded its list of services for students with disabilities on the IEP (individualized education program) to include social work and rehabilitation counseling. This addition means that students with emotional disturbance, a disability classification under IDEA, may now benefit from these services on the IEP.

  • IDEA reauthorization

    In 1997, IDEA was reauthorized again to include a provision that addressed behavior infractions. Under this provision, a student cannot be expelled from school for misbehaving if the behavior is caused by his or her disability.

  • IDEA renamed the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act

    Under this reauthorization, school districts could now opt to use RTI to determine if a child has a disability that effects his or learning. In this model, schools may implement interventions to see if it helps students who seem to be struggling. This way, schools don't have to wait for a student to fall behind before intervening and providing support.

  • Americans with Disabilities Act

    The Act emphasizes that the definition of disability should be construed in favor of broad coverage of individuals to the maximum extent permitted by the terms of the ADA and generally shall not require extensive analysis.

  • Senate Bill 100

    Senate Bill 100 explicitly requires that schools minimize exclusionary discipline practices such as suspension and expulsion, while increasing use of alternatives to suspension.