The authors' association goes back more than 40 years, when they were both starting doctoral studies in special education for students with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD) at the University of Kansas. In this article, the authors provide a balanced (albeit biased) account of the good and the bad, including some of the many achievements…

The debate over expanding the legal definition of behavior disorders to include social maladjustment is presented; both sides of the issue are addressed including such aspects as confusion in terms, unclear incidence figures difficulty in identification, and legal and ethical ramifications. (CL)

This review analyzes the origin and maintenance of self-injurious behavior, focusing on the areas of operant contingencies, sensory contingencies, and/or biological variables. It discusses definitions, prevalence, and etiology. A hypothesis is forwarded which includes components from both the operant and biological domains to explain the origin of…

The position paper examines issues related to serving behaviorally impaired (BI) students in rural areas. Under-identification of BI students in rural areas is noted and possible reasons (such as questions about the adequacy of existing screening procedures) are suggested. Obstacles to service delivery are pointed out, as is the need for a more…

This article examines the possibility that a variety of other psychiatric disorders may be associated with conduct disorders in children, and these additional disorders may require very different interventions. Extrapolation of symptoms from classroom inattention or disruptive behavior and estimated prevalence are discussed. (Author/DB)

This paper addresses the disproportionate number of males in programs for students with emotional and behavioral disorders--estimates of 3:1 and 6:1 are cited. It suggests that a combination of physiological differences between boys and girls and specific educational and environmental effects are plausible contributing factors. (DB)

This article discusses the prevalence of youth with behavioral disorders in correctional settings and reviews issues related to schooling, programing, teacher training, and teacher supply and demand. It notes that increasingly violent, antisocial, and culturally diverse incarcerated youth are expected, requiring special teachers who are both well…

Increasing evidence shows that fetal exposure to alcohol, cocaine, phenylcyclidine hydrochloride (PCP), and other drugs results in infants with abnormal neurologic findings. This suggests the need for longitudinal studies to determine whether such findings will translate into a significant number of children with learning and behavioral problems.…

In this interview with Susan Conners, a middle school French teacher who has lived with Tourette syndrome (TS) since age 6, she discusses her lack of diagnosis until age 36, difficulties in school, why TS should be listed under "Other Health Impaired" in federal legislation, characteristics of TS, and interventions. (Contains…