Trends in delinquency are summarized and principles for treating violent adolescents are considered. Four major trends are identified: (1) an increase in violent crimes committed by juveniles, (2) a decrease in intact nuclear families of delinquents, (3) an increase in voluntary separation (divorce or abandonment rather than death) of parents, and…

This article, originally presented as the keynote speech at a national conference, presents the author's views regarding the field of emotional and behavioral disorders currently, a brief history of the field, what is known about students with difficult behavior, how schools respond to them, and ways to build school capacity to work with all…

This study explains the characteristics and treatment of individuals with Rett Syndrome and presents two case studies that investigated the use of interventions in reducing stereotypical hand movements (SHM). The case studies involve two girls (ages 5 and 7) with Rett Syndrome who were enrolled in a special education school. Information was…

The paper considers the nature of support and counseling needed by parents of emotionally disturbed/behavior disordered adolescents. Seven potential areas of conflict for the adolescent are identified and explained with the intention of providing parents with greater understanding of their children's lives. Crises are explained to include conflict…

Multidisciplinary team efforts to address educational problems of emotionally/behaviorally disordered students in rural areas are examined. The rationale for such an approach is considered from a transactional perspective which views behavior as a social phenomenon. The team organization and development goals are explained (including orientation…

This paper connects the philosophical basis of Glasser's Choice Theory/Reality Therapy to the Functional Assessments of Behavior (FAB) required by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The 1997 reauthorization of IDEA states that before a school can place a student with emotional or behavioral difficulties into an alternative…

This study of the relationship between maternal depressive symptomatology and perceptions of child behavior used standard child behavior stimuli to control for differences in child behavior. A total of 31 mothers of children between 5 and 12 years of age with externalizing behavior disorders participated. Each mother watched three videotapes of…

The study reports on a comparative analysis of behavior disorder definitions and eligibility criteria for special education cooperatives (N=90) in the state of Illinois. Data regarding entrance and exit criteria and referral, evaluation and program placement procedures are evaluated. Among results were that 35% of respondents reported that no…

The presentation focuses on forms of therapeutic tutoring (particularly in reading) with children and adolescents. Developments in educational therapy at the Tavistock Clinic in London are cited along with efforts in the United States. Educational therapy approaches to deal with the school dropout program in Holland are also described. The…

A summer day camp program was offered to 32 students (grades 2-6) enrolled at the Transitional School (Ohio), a school for severely behaviorally handicapped students. The program was designed to maintain the positive effects of the school intervention during the summer months. Camp staff included six learning disability/behavior disorder certified…

The effects of a self-recording procedure on time on task and academic productivity of two institutionalized behavior disordered adolescents were investigated. Daily observations were made using time sampling to assess attention to task, and the number of mathematics problems solved correctly was recorded. Treatment encouraged the use of a…

This paper discusses the role of social workers in uncovering the learning problems that contribute to the inappropriate school behavior of students classified as severely emotionally impaired. Case studies are used to illustrate students' weakened self esteem, the marked discrepancy between verbal and performance scores, the presence of factors…

This paper reviews literature and clinical experiences on the neurobiological and psychological aspects of sleep in children with mental retardation. The lack of a universal, operational definition of sleep disorders is noted, and a study is cited in which 61% of a group of 20 children (ages 2-13) with developmental disabilities were found to have…

The paper reviews research on effects of metal pollutants on behavioral disorders in children. Methodological programs of studies conducted in the 1970's are described. Research since 1980 is then addressed in terms of general population studies and studies of behaviorally disordered populations. Findings of research on the latter subject group…

This study conducted a descriptive analysis of the research literature on teaching social skills to youth with behavioral disorders. Analysis focused on studies which used a single-subject research design. The 22 articles, representing 38 separate studies, were analyzed in terms of: (1) nature of independent variables; (2) distribution of…