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The Successful Inclusion of Children with Emotional and Behavioural Disorders
Into General Education Settings
by Caroline Ann Westwood
The educational and psychological literature on children with emotional and behavioural disorders (EBD) indicates that this population is one of the most difficult groups to include into general educational settings. The literature shows that inclusion continues to be a goal, but there is little research that explores what characterizes a successful inclusion plan that results in the child with EBD being able to cope and remain in the general education setting. The primary goal of this research was to investigate how the successful inclusion of children with EBD was achieved via a hermeneutic phenomenological method. Four children with EBD, four parents and seven general education teachers participated in qualitative interviews. This research is unique in that it studies children with EBD from a wholistic point of view and from multiple perspectives. From the stories of the participants seven themes were revealed for successful inclusion. Specifically, they were: 1) the positive teacher-child relationship, 2) the childcare counsellorŐs support in the inclusion process 3) the childŐs readiness for inclusion, 4) parental involvement, 5) proactive, constructive and consistent communication, 6) the benefits of a gradual inclusion plan, and 7) effective teaching style and classroom supports. Within these broad themes, sub-themes were also identified from the participantsŐ transcripts. The sub-themes became important information in describing the factors that contributed to the successful inclusion of the behaviour disordered children in this study. Statements and phrases related to these themes were mentioned several times across multiple subjects. As a result of this study, the first two themes were new and additive to the EBD literature. The study concludes with nine recommendations for the successful inclusion of children with EBD into general classroom settings.
E-Mail: caroline.westwood@calgaryhealthregion.ca
Calgary, Alberta
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