Behavior Planning and Mental Health

Disabilities and Behavior

When students have complex medical profiles, often with medication management issues, it is important for us to understand the impact of the disorder on individual temperament, behavior, and family dynamics. Many excellent websites are available:

• Autism Society
• Child and Adolescent Bipolar Foundation
• National Organization for Rare Disorders

Documents PENT members have found helpful included:

• Behavior Support Guidelines for Students With Disabilities by John Theilmann - PowerPoint
• Behavior Support Plan Concepts by Joan Justice-Brown - PowerPoint
• Behavior Support Plans for Non-Verbal Students by Toni Lien
• Behavior Support Plans Inclusion and Support to General Ed Teachers by Joan Justice-Brown
• Case of "Y"-Treating School Refusal by Bruce Gale
• Characteristics of Students with Asperger Syndrome by Dru Saren
• Delivering the Hard News Well: Your Child Has Mental Retardation - PowerPoint
• Designing Behavior Interventions to Address the Needs of Students with Disabilities or Characteristics
• The Impact of Childhood Disability: The Parent's Struggle submitted by Denise Keller

Website Resource:

Thanks to PENT Cadre member Judy Burkhartsmeyer for this valuable link:

• OSEP (Office of Special Education Programs) has a good new publication: Teaching Children with ADHD: Instructional Strategies and Practices - includes suggestions regarding research-based academic instruction, behavioral interventions and classroom accommodations.