What happens to emotionally handicapped children when they grow up?

[LostInAnomie]

I just recently started a job as a program assistant for a program designed for elementary aged emotionally handicapped children. Being a relative rookie to this type of work, these past few weeks have been an eye opening experience for me. For the most part these are normal, well behaved children that seem indistinguishable from other kids their age, until something sets them off. The normal trials of the day that most people wouldn't blink an eye at throw these children into uncontrollable fits of anger that almost nothing, besides restraint and time, can stop. It makes me wonder, what is going to happen to these kids? They seem to be incapable of handling normal levels of stress as it is. As they grow up and continue to fall behind in school (many of these kids are LD, or at least far behind academically) I can only imagine the stress getting worse. How will they function as adults? Do they eventually learn to cope? Do they get better? Do most of them find regular jobs?

Anyone know?

[Rabrrrrrr]

1. They become freepers, or those asinine annoying liberals who have "issues"

about minor things, but they have it with a whole lot of minor stuff at the same time so they become intolerable to be around.

[JVS]

2. "...uncontrollable fits of anger that almost nothing...can stop."

Ummm. Have we found the source for midlevel management?

[Wapsie B]

3. Some of them move up the corporate ladder

into positions of authority.

:eyes:

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

4. They become President of the United States.

[Deja Q]

5. As a person who was designated as one, and let's face it IS one...

with difficulty.

I am fortunate to be intelligent enough to know my failings, even if my emotional development has yet to catch up to my intellectual acuity. Which may be unfortunate as I still often have significant problems coping.

Lord knows I try...

And don't ask about personal relationships. Maybe on 17 March or 15 April when I'll be a designated drunk...

And I know everything I am talented and good for is either not economically viable or being offshored. But at least more neurotypicals feel the same way in that respect these days.

Maybe we ought to give the big corporations the boot and all make our own little companies, loyal to each other?

And this is as pithy as I can ever get.

[KitchenWitch]

6. My aunt has an adult daughter with autism

Basically, she lives with my aunt and when such time comes that my aunt is no longer with us, there have been arrangements made for a group living situation, to be overseen by my aunt's son.

[salin]

7. many ED kids get behind academically - not because they are LD

but because the behaviors get in the way of learning. In the best case scenarios part of the individualized instruction plans include behavior management and counseling that helps the child, as s/he matures to learn behaviors to cope with the anger/frustration. If/when that can be done (rather than using the label as a crutch) - then the s/he can continue (or catch up or get ahead - some ED kids I have known have been exceptionally bright) in school and go on to higher ed after high school. But that is the best case scenario.

[hickman]

8. My son was diagnosed emotionally disturbed at 5.

The school social worker told me that when she worked with him she wanted to adopt him because one on one he was so smart and affectionate. She also told me of watching his behavior melt down as more and more people entered the room. He went from being a sweet child to an obsessively controlling jerk incrementally. The more people, the more he changed. I put him play therapy till I couldn't afford it anymore. I also became his best friend when he didn't have friends. You do what you have to do. He's 24 now, sweet, intelligent, hardworking, artistic, and doesn't suffer fools gladly. His temper never changed, he just got smarter about losing it.

[barb162]

9. What's LD?

[LostInAnomie]

10. Learning disabled.

Most emotionally disabled kids aren't actually LD. It just happens that the majority of the group I have are. A lot of the others are just behind in school because of either their disability, or their home situation.

[barb162]

11. Hopefully, they get good counseling before they get older