Conduct Disorders And Education
What are "conduct disorders"?
Conduct disorder is, once again, a blanket term used to cover a variety of maladaptive or antisocial or violent behaviors exhibited by individuals in inappropriate times. Conduct disorders may be a function of choice, which is to say that the person exhibiting the conduct disorder--let's say defiance, for example--they may be choosing to exhibit that type of behavior, therefore they have some control over it. It differs from emotional disturbance in that students with emotional disturbance generally do not have any control over the behavior that they exhibit.
What are some of the symptoms of conduct disorders?
There is a plethora of symptoms for conduct disorders. This includes everything from defiance, to self-mutilation, to mistreatment of animals and vulgarity. It varies and varies from student to student, varies from person to person. There's far from an exhaustive list as to what qualifies as a conduct disorder. Any time a student, basically, is openly defiant in some way, shape, or form, you can call that a conduct disorder. The difference between a conduct disorder and just "bad behavior" is that when a student chooses to exhibit inappropriate or maladaptive behavior on a regular or consistent basis, to the point where it interferes with school, interferes with family life, gets them in trouble with the law, this you can call a conduct disorder.
How do the symptoms of conduct disorders affect my child's ability to learn?
Conduct disorders affect children negatively. Actually it's fairly obvious how conduct disorders can have a negative impact on students. Students that choose to be defiant, that choose to get into fights, that choose to take drugs, will get themselves in trouble at school and get themselves in trouble with the law. This will in the long run severely impair their ability to have a good life.
Do students with conduct disorders qualify for special needs programs?
Generally students with conduct disorders do not quality for special education programs, supports, or services. The reason for this is that through assessment and interview, most students with conduct disorders can be proven to choose to act this way. And if students with conduct disorders choose to act this way, they can choose not to act this way. Special education programs are services given to students that have no choice in the way that they act, or have no choice in the condition or way that they were born or became. Therefore, more often than not, students with conduct disorders are found ineligible for special educational support and services.
How do I address conduct disorder symptoms in the classroom and at home?
The way I deal with defiance in the classroom, which is something parents can also do at home, is to give their children choices. Ultimatums are usually what bring out defiance in a child. When you demand something from a child, you're giving them free access to say no to you. However, if you give your child choices as to things that they can do, then that way at least they feel like they have some control over their life and the direction their life is taking. The thing of it is that you as the person who are giving those choices can shape either of the choices that you give to something that you want. You can give choices in terms of a very heavy consequence is one choice, and a lighter consequence as another choice; and of course you're trying to steer the child into choosing the lighter consequence, which is really what you wanted him to get in the first place, but by giving your child choices you should be able to avoid most power struggles.
Where can I get help for my child with special needs?
The best source of resources to help the parents of children with special needs is always their children's school. Parents have got to keep in mind that if the child with special needs is enrolled in a public or even a private school, that those people are there to meet the needs of their children and that is regardless of whether they are a special needs child or a general needs child. When parents feel like they need help and they don't know where to turn, it's always best to start looking for help with children with special needs at the school. Counsellors, administrators and even teachers have a plethora of information. There are programs offered through schools and that can help the child with special needs as well as the parent. Most of the services offered through public schools to help parents with children with special needs in particular, are free for the parent.
