How to Find the Latest Research on Emotional Disabilities

If your child is diagnosed with an emotional disability you'll have lots of questions: Which one does your child have? What can you do to help your child? What are your rights as a parent? There are plenty of techniques and research on how to deal with and overcome emotional disabilities. These steps will help you get started on your information search.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Local Phone Books
• Telephones
• Internet Access
• Home Computers
• Laptop Computer

1. Call your local school board. Chances are they have a learning disabilities department that deals with all of the special needs students in your school district. The department will be able to provide you with numbers and addresses of agencies that can provide you with more information on emotional disabilities.

2. Go to the library. Ask the librarian to guide you in the right direction or do research on the library's central computer system. Be sure to check the date of the materials you find - some information may be outdated and not appropriate to your needs.

3. Log on. Do an Internet search. Try these keywords: emotional disability, emotional disturbance, behavioral disability, behavioral disturbance, conduct disorder. Different sites will be listed under each keyword search. You'll find sites with definitions, legal implications, and teaching and parenting ideas. You'll also find chat rooms where you can talk to other parents with your same concerns or ask questions of experts. There are several national organizations focusing specifically on the needs of students with learning disabilities and behavioral disabilities; the groups' Web sites will have useful links and information about federal studies.

4. Ask your child's teacher. If your child is placed in a special education class, the teacher should have resources for you to use or be able to direct you in the right direction. If your child's teacher does not have information for you, request it as soon as possible. Make sure the person who is teaching your child is qualified to teach students with emotional or conduct disorders.

Tips & Warnings

• Call the U.S. Department of Education at (800) USA-LEARN for information about recent federal studies.
• Ask your school board for information on parent support groups you can attend.
• Find information on how to effectively parent your emotionally disabled child if you experience extreme frustration dealing with him or her.

Who Can Help:

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[handiannie]

on 4/29/2007 I agree with KarenC!!! What about adults? Insurance or not..many adults need more information. Espscialy if newly diagnosed

[KarenC]

on 1/13/2007 This is a very good resource for children, but what about adults? Especially those who don't have insurance and need government programs?

[mad_jamison]

on 11/28/2006 One of the best ways to learn about your childs disability is to first join a support group and become active in it. It could be the local parent advisory committee on special education, your local children's mental health center, the local National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI), or any of the dozens of support groups and non-profit agencies that deal with emotional and behavioral issues.

As soon as you are comfortable within the group you've joined, you can begin volunteering in small ways and work your way up to leadership roles. Soon people will be looking to you for your expertise.