A Position Paper of the Council for Children with Behavioral Disorders

Abstract

actively at work on the concept of the terminology used in our field to identify children who are handicapped by their behavior. During the past two years a subcommittee appointed by the Executive Committee has been developing and revising a position paper which focuses on terminology. The entire text of the paper is presented on the following pages. The initial ideas for the paper's content were discussed and agreed upon in April 1983 at the Spring Executive Committee meeting. During the ensuing year a position statement was published in Behavioral Disorders and comments were solicited. A draft version of the position paper was prepared for the Spring Executive meeting in April 1984. In September 1984 38 persons in our field were sent copies of the draft for review, and their comments were solicited. Those comments were considered at the Fall Executive Committee meeting. At that meeting the Executive Committee finalized the content of the paper, and the final draft was completed in February 1985. While the text which follows represents the end product of the original subcommittee, it remains open for comments and consideration from the membership. In order to facilitate such comments, the Executive Committee conducted a program session entitled Issues in Terminology for Children Who Are Handicapped by Their Behavior during the 1985 CEC Conference in Anaheim. At that session the position was reviewed and five professionals responded, representing various perspectives on the issue. There was also an audience response period. If, after reading the paper, you wish to comment, please do so. Comments should be in writing and directed to Dr. Sharon Huntze, Department of Special Education, University of Missouri-Columbia, 515 South Sixth Street, Columbia, MO 65211, or to any other member of the Executive Committee.