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Brenda Scheuermann

I am an Associate Professor of Special Education Programs at Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos, TX, working in the areas of Generic Special Education and Emotional/Behavioral Disorders (EBD). I am active in the field of behavioral disorders, presenting at conferences, conducting workshops for teachers and administrators, working in schools with teachers and administrators, and authoring articles targeted at improving educational programs for students with EBD. I am particularly interested in assisting teachers and administrators design and implement proactive and proven strategies for managing behavior, and helping educators reduce reliance on punitive measures of behavior control. In addition, I currently edit the newsletter for the Council for Children with Behavioral Disorders.

The article, "A Challenging Future: Current Barriers and Recommended Action for our Field", was written for two reasons. First, more than ever before, the field of behavioral disorders is facing significant and varied challenges on many fronts, including increasing social risks, unsympathetic public policy, and ineffective educational programming. All of these factors combine to make life more difficult, and successful outcomes more unlikely, for children and youth with emotional/behavioral disorders and their families. We must work hard to change these trends.

The second reason for writing the article was that we wanted to encourage those who work with and care about children and youth with EBD to see the "big picture" in terms of the varied problems facing our field. More importantly, the article was a call for increased advocacy efforts from teachers and other service providers who work with young people with EBD. We offer some recommendations for action that we feel can help mediate the regressive trends that are threatening children and youth with EBD.

I’m anxious to hear your thoughts on the "big picture". I’m especially interested in things you see that we can add to our list of "reasons for optimism". I’m looking forward to chatting with you!