Emotional Disability and OT

Earn 1 hour of continuing education by joining OT Potential after taking this course.

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.

Primary Journal Article Explored

When you log in, be sure to check out the OT Potential Club’s written breakdown of the following research article. Then, share your questions and thoughts with fellow practitioners.

• Adapting SEL interventions to meet student needs: A research-practice partnership supporting students with emotional disabilities.

Supporting Research and Journal Articles

• Understanding and responding to the effects of trauma in the classroom: A primer for educators.
• Positive Mental Health Strategies Impact on Students with Emotional Disturbances’ Attention to Task.

Learning Objectives

• You will be able to identify OT interventions that can be utilized with children with emotional disability.
• You will be able to recognize how trauma informed can be integrated into OT interventions that can be utilized with children with emotional disability. 

Agenda

Intro and breakdown of journal article

• 00:00:00 Intro
• 00:03:02 What is social-emotional learning?
• 00:04:26 What is the Path Program?
• 00:05:27 What the intent of this research?
• 00:05:47 How the Path Program is being implemented
• 00:06:47 Plan-Do-Study-Act Cycle
• 00:09:43 Lessons from the Path Program
• 00:11:07 Intro to Michelle Flemen-Tung

Discussion on practical implications for OTs

• 00:12:57 How the Path Program came to be
• 00:18:42 How is the program funded?
• 00:22:35 How has the Path Program change you?
• 00:26:30 Article impressions
• 00:30:33 What is the role of OT in this program?
• 00:35:28 What can other school OTs takeaway from this program?
• 00:40:14 What can we take away about trauma informed care?
• 00:45:45 What kernel-sized interventions can OTs take away?
• 00:53:51 How can OTs spearhead a similar programs in their school?

Target Audience/Educational Level

Our target audience is occupational therapy practitioners who are looking to learn about Emotional Disability and OT.  The educational level is introductory.

Financial and Non-financial Disclosures

It is the policy of OT Potential to disclose any financial and non-financial interest the provider or instructor may have in a product or service mentioned during an activity. This is to ensure that the audience is made aware of any bias of the speaker.

We here at OT Potential have no financial stake in this topic. Our guest, Michelle Flemen-Tung, also has no financial disclosures.

Speakers

Michelle Flemen-Tung, MSEd, Program Director, Path Practice Team

Michelle Flemen-Tung, MSEd, is the program director for the Path Support Team at NYU.  The main focus of her work is facilitating inclusive practices with educators and administrators across NYC communities. She co-authored the program’s proposal with Dorothy Siegel, founder of the ASD Nest program. Michelle is a licensed special educator, certified school building leader, and a graduate of NYU’s Educational Leadership Program. Michelle has over 20 years of experience working in schools as a special education teacher and leader. 

Sarah Lyon, OTR/L

Sarah’s passion is helping fellow OT practitioners translate evidence into daily practice. Sarah earned her BA in religion from St. Olaf College, then earned her master’s degree in occupational therapy from New York University in 2011.

Since then, she’s worked in numerous facilities, including a critical access hospital, an acute trauma hospital, and a state inpatient psychiatric hospital. Sarah is the founder/owner of OT Potential. Read more about OT Potential here.

This course was designed to meet your continuing education requirements

We designed the courses in the Club to meet the requirements for “online” and “independent/self-study” courses. To verify the requirements from your specific state (within the US), check out our post, OT Continuing Education Requirements. If you are outside of the United States and have questions, please contact us.

We are proud to be an AOTA Approved Provider and to meet the requirements for your NBCOT renewal.

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