Pedagogy of the Depressed: experiences as a special ed student in the 1990s.

[MichiganVote]

5. The changes that are being made to the DSM

will not result in failure to be eligible for SSI--unless--its shown that the individual is unable to be self sufficient with common community support. And I will add, that since we all know that community supports are scant-the likelihood of that happening are also pretty scant.

Each state has a rehabilitation office that HS students should tap into before HS graduation. Progamming post HS usually comes thru local community mental health and other state agencies. No one is ever granted SSI solely on the basis of a diagnosis. As with any "eligibility" based programming, a diagnosis is only one part of the puzzle to supply corroboration of the need for area providers.

For the sake of readers, the Northwood's school that is cited in this article seems to have utilized some behavior modification strategies that are common. A reinforcement program that employs the use of points is not unheard of in this type of self contained special education programming. Usually students who are certified with ASD respond well to this kind of structure. Unless they lack the cognitive ability to understand the point/token program. Kids with an emotional disturbance, tend to like it, then to rebel against it and then to begin to use it again. As stated, the restraint outcomes in this article are troublesome. Training today simply states that if a student is a danger to themselves or others-restraint may be needed to curtail aggressive behavior. Restraints should not be used for any other purpose.

Mixing kids with emotional disturbance and those with ASD is seldom productive. But it was done more often in the past largely because very few people in education knew what the hell to do with kids on the spectrum who needed sped services. All kids with an emotional disturbance will have some maladjustment problems which can result in bullying others. As such, kids with ASD can be sitting ducks. Much has changed since the 90's but with the range of budget cuts the situation is precarious.

At this time, more males that females are Dx with ASD or with the various emotional disturbances listed in the DSM. Sadly, not enough clinicians and certainly not physicians, spend enough time on a differential diagnosis process. The result is that we have many misdiagnosed children and adults.