#86: Emotional Disability and OT with Michelle Flemen-Tung

Children with emotional disability (also known as emotional disturbance) are significantly more likely than children with other disabilities to:

• NOT be integrated into regular classrooms
• Experience a disciplinary removal
• Drop out of school

Over the years, multiple social-emotional learning (SEL) interventions have been developed to support children with emotional disabilities. But, New York City Public Schools found that one-size-fits all programs were not sufficient for their student population.

So, the district created—and began studying—an educational pilot called the Path Program. At the heart of this program are OT professionals and occupational therapy concepts.

The journal article we are reviewing in this 1-hour CE course describes the research-practice partnership that supported this program’s development—and the role of trauma-informed care in social-emotional learning interventions.

After we review the article, we will welcome Michelle Flemen-Tung, MSEd, the program director for the Path Program. She will share concrete ways we can all improve the support we provide to kids with emotional disabilities.

You can find more details on this course here:
https://otpotential.com/ceu-podcast-courses/emotional-disability-and-ot

Here's the primary research we are discussing:
Adapting SEL interventions to meet student needs: A research-practice partnership supporting students with emotional disabilities.