History of EBD
Changes in Terminology ("Overview of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders." p.3):
Important Court Cases (Wright, P. W. D., Wright, P. D., 2014):
The Board of Education v. Amy Rowley court case (1982) was the first court case to discuss the The Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975, which states that the federal government must provide monetary aid to assist the education of "handicapped children". This act was designed to help the federal government promote education for children with a handicap. However, when Amy was denied services for her disability, the reinforcement of this act came into question. Ultimately, the courts ruled in favor of Amy, and she was allowed access to the disputed special education services.
Significant Contributors ("Overview of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders." p.10, 16):
Changes in Terminology ("Overview of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders." p.3):
- In the past, the term "mental illness" was a label for all people who had disorders. This term generalized disorders, and people with emotional and behavioral disorders might have been characterized within this umbrella term.
- In the late 1900's the term "emotional disturbance" was adopted to refer to people with emotional and behavioral problems.
- It wasn't until 1988 that the term "Emotional and Behavioral Disorders" was adopted by the National Mental Health and Special Education Coalition.
Important Court Cases (Wright, P. W. D., Wright, P. D., 2014):
The Board of Education v. Amy Rowley court case (1982) was the first court case to discuss the The Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975, which states that the federal government must provide monetary aid to assist the education of "handicapped children". This act was designed to help the federal government promote education for children with a handicap. However, when Amy was denied services for her disability, the reinforcement of this act came into question. Ultimately, the courts ruled in favor of Amy, and she was allowed access to the disputed special education services.
Significant Contributors ("Overview of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders." p.10, 16):
- Sigmund Freud influenced the understanding of EBD through his studies on cognitive psychology.
- Harry Stack Sullivan, an interpersonal theorists, probed the effects of culture on behavior through sociology and social-psychology.
- Eli Bower defined EBD in 1961, and his definition of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders was accepted by the U.S. Department of Education. This is the definition included in the IDEA.
- Research continues to find the "genetic and biochemical causes of EBD".