Social stories are effective interventions that can be used to manage negative behaviors and develop social skills. However, contradictory results are suggested within the research because of variability in designing social stories, intervention phases, target behaviors, and treatment protocol. Social story interventions may reduce negative…

The present paper serves as the first systematic review of the training, methodologies, and outcomes reported in the professional development (PD) literature for paraprofessionals working with students with or at risk for externalizing behavior disorders. A total of 16 investigations including 332 paraprofessionals and 852 children and adolescents…

Children with emotional and behavioral disabilities who would potentially benefit from Animal Assisted Intervention (AAI) with therapy dogs do not have consistent access to this type of intervention in school settings due to a lack of defined policies and processes at both individual school and district levels. The focus of this qualitative…

Introduction: Features of intellectual disability (ID) and/or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may hinder responsiveness to interventions typically used during psychiatric hospitalization to manage severely disruptive behavior, and could increase the likelihood of experiencing restraint and/or seclusion (R/S). This study investigated the occurrence…

Truncating variants of the "MAGEL2" gene, one of the protein-coding genes within the Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) critical region on chromosome 15q11, cause Schaaf-Yang syndrome (SYS)--a neurodevelopmental disorder that shares several clinical features with PWS. The current study sought to characterize the neurobehavioral phenotype of SYS…

Catherine Bradshaw, PhD, MEd, is a professor and the senior associate dean for research and faculty development at the Curry School of Education and Human Development at the University of Virginia. She was previously the associate editor for the "Journal of Research on Adolescence" and is currently the editor of "Prevention…

There is an increasing attention to the phenomenon referred to as "twice exceptional" ("2e") children, namely, children who demonstrate both exceptional abilities and disabilities. In this essay, this concept is applied to delinquency and/or emotional-behavior disorder and gifts (talents) in the performance arts, exploring the…

Virtual learning is attracting more students with disabilities as it may offer unique learning opportunities in online environments. However, virtual instruction may not effectively meet the needs of students with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD). We highlight ways that special education teachers can develop culturally relevant behavioral…

Teachers are expected to support all students that enter their classrooms including students with Emotional and Behavior Disorders, also known as EBD. The maladaptive behavior exhibited by students with EBD often prevents them from engaging successfully in learning and forging relationships, leading to them being disconnected from school (Sheaffer…

A phenomenological study, according to Creswell (2013), is one that "focuses on describing what all participants have in common as they experience a phenomenon" (p. 76). This phenomenological study aimed to (a) explore teacher perceptions who have experienced teacher-directed student aggression by students with emotional behavioral…

Today's teachers experience high levels of stress and fatigue that can negatively affect their well-being. Teacher burnout is not a new educational phenomenon, but it has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. In this article, we discuss the prevalence of teacher stress and its impact on teacher well-being and student achievement. We call for…

We explore discourses about social emotional learning (SEL) and trauma-informed practices (TIP) as school interventions in response to resistance from students and guardians. We analyze an illustrative example and one data source that casts light on the deficit impact of SEL and TIP discourses on both teacher/school practices and children and…

In the aftermath of the COVID-19 upheaval, special education professionals grapple with a seismic surge in student behavioral issues. The challenges are formidable, and the interventions available often fall short of making a meaningful impact. "Best Practices for Behavior Intervention in Special Education" steps in to assist the urgent…

Background: The conceptual framework for "School as a Protective Factor" approach was presented in a companion article in this issue of the journal. The current article describes the validation of the "School as a Protective Factor-Brief (SPF-Brief)," a 13-item survey measuring the 3 core constructs and 13 defining…

During a school day, children make several transitions between activities, which can take away from instructional time and result in challenging behaviors. This study investigates the impact positive engagement and behavioral supports have on children's behavior while transitioning. Participants (N = 40; 77.5% Male; 92.5% Hispanic) were enrolled…