spec ed paper Essays - Psychiatry, Human Behavior, Free Essays

spec ed paper Essays - Psychiatry, Human Behavior, Free Essays February 27 th , 2018 Module 2 Redacted Glen Payne Special Education Part1 For this paper I have chosen to analyse the Case of Suzette, found on page 125 of the course text . The case outlines the struggle of a parent and their child, Suzette, in finding appropriate placement in a school. Suzette is identified as sixteen years old, recently expelled from her high school due to a series of violent outbursts and is seeking a new school. Suzette is a high functioning, high achieving student who, up until her teenage years when her behaviour took a violent and more consequential turn. The following analysis will explore the behavioural issues that Suzette is dealing with, a detail the most appropriate action plan, and a look at the likely outcome of her educational career. What Are the Beha vioural I ssues ? Due to Suzette's high achievement and agreeability up until her adolescent years, it is unlikely that she is experiencing negative manifestations of disorders that appear early on in a child's development . It is noted in the text that a child with this disorder may display a pattern of disruptive and violent behavior and have problems following rules. Due to Suzette's violent outbursts and accelerated ag gression, it is possible that she is suffering from Oppositional Defiant Disorder . It is not uncommon for children and teens to have behavior-related problems at some time during their development. ODD has eight characteristics for identification, and they are as follows: often loses temper; often argues with adults; often actively defies or refuses to comply with adults' requests or rules; often deliberately annoys people; often blames others for his or her mistakes or misbehavior; is often touchy or easily annoyed by ot hers; is often angry and resentful; is often spiteful and vindictive (Behavioural Issues Workshop, 2016) . Considering the fact that Suzette is only recently exhibiting dangerous symptoms that include violence, defiance, and struggles with authority, it is my best estimation to assign Oppositional Defiant Disorder to her case as the primary struggle. ODD combined with the "teenage - crazy" behaviour that her mother expressed could result in the aggressive behaviour described in her ca se. Fortunately , when treated with care and attention, individuals with ODD can experience rehabilitation and re-entry into appropriate school programming. What Support is Needed? Instructional In my experience with students who are dealing with ODD, it is most beneficial and helpful to change the language of my instruction to suit the needs of the child. Instead of using "must" driven language such as "you must complete this assignment", or "I need you to", it is better received to use inclusive language such as "when can we get this completed" or "what do you need from me to be successful?". This rhetorical shift attempts to diffuse the anger and "fight or flight" instincts associated with ODD aggression, and makes the student feel in control, while still functioning under an authority. Environmental and Assessment Any anger-fueled situation that has the potential to escalate is even more sensitive and likely for an ODD student. As such, it is important to monitor temperament and recognize the signs of escalation. Teaching the student to recognize their anger or irritability and implement coping skills is the best case scenario, but often times this is difficult, especially if you are strangers. My recommendation in these cases is to allow students to remove themselves from irritating situations using inclusive language and questions, such as: Do you feel like you need a break? Where would you like to go? How can we help you right now? Would you like me to give you space? In my experience, allowing students to choose where they would like to move to (Student Success, going for a walk, the office) has the best potential at diffusing a tense situation. In the same vein, accommodating assessment for ODD students involves compromise. In high school, students are required to complete regular assignments in order to earn their credit, but giving ODD students the tools to succeed often looks like compromised deadlines, extra help, or assignments broken up into smaller, more manageable pieces. Looking Forward With the proper support and education to