ABSTRACT
A typical art class may have some students identified with special needs. Children with emotional or behavioral disorders may have been the victims of trauma such as abuse and neglect. This chapter defines and describes emotional disabilities, including psychiatric disorders and behavioral disorders, and the degree to which the child’s educational performance is adversely affected. The Individualized Educational Program (IEP) guides the assessment, identification, implementation, consultation, and evaluation of appropriate education. Some students with behavioral disorders are educated in programs housed within a public school, sometimes referred to as a “school within a school.” Other non-traditional approaches, such as Center Schools, provide targeted support for students with disorders so severe that success in a regular school setting is unlikely. A Center School is a self-contained facility, designed for a specific educational disability, and provides multiple services. Mr. Parsons, an experienced art teacher with over 39 years’ experience working with students with behavioral disorders, provides information on non-traditional educational settings, shares his personal perspectives on teaching art in a Center School, and offers model art activities that have proven successful. He expands on what it means for an art teacher or professional to succeed in an educational setting.
