Emotional Impairment

What is Emotional Impairment?

• A diverse, complex diagnosis designated by impaired affect, relationship difficulties and barriers to learning.
• 1 of 12 designated disabilities under IDEA
• Characterized by depressed mood, unhapiness, and physical symptoms of fear related to school.

What is emotional impairment?

• Can be a stand alone diagnosis or in conjunction with another DSM disgnosis
• The following are examples of which can accompany an IE designation: „„

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• -PTSD „ -ADHD „ -Obsessive Compulsive and Tic Disorders „ -Anxiety „ -Depression -Schizophrenia -Reactive Attachment Disorder „ -Conduct Disorder „ -Oppositional Defiant Disorder

Criteria

• „In order for a child to be classified ED, he/she must meet at least ONE of the five specific characteristics below. „As well, they need to meet all three of the limiting criteria:
• Must exist over a long period of time
• Must be to a marked degree
• Must adversely affect the student's educational performance

EI Characteristics

• An inability to learn which cannot be explained by intellectual, sensory or other health factors.
• An inability to build or maintain satisfactory interpersonal relationships with peers and teachers.

EI Characteristics

• A tendency to develop physical symptoms or fears associated with personal or school problems.
• A general pervasive mood of unhappiness or depression.
• A tendency to develop physical symptoms or fears associated with personal or school problems.

Meet Jack

• I will read aloud a case study from one of my own students.
• Does Jack meet criteria for EI?

What did you hear?

• Affect/Mood
• Impaired function
• Behavior
• Educational Performance
• Persistance over time

SEELS Study

• 17%, 21%, and 6% in-service ED training.
• Availability versus attainment of services.
• Services drop as students continue through school.

Issues

• Teacher Training
• Mis-diagnosis (cognitive vs. emotional)
• Zero-tolerance policies

Social Worker Interventions

• Co-teaching
• Supporting & including parents through IEP
• Mindfulness & students with IE
• Trauma Informed CBT & DBT (PTSD)
• Skills building & behavioral planning

Policy Interventions

• Procedures for determining EI vs. DSM disorder vs. maladjustment
• Teacher preparation routes
• Staffing qualified to stage interventions
• Diagnostic tools to assess and plan interventions.