Classifying Emotionally disturbed Children

I came across an article today as I was doing a little research into emotional illnesses in which gave five principals that are used when considering children with an emotional disability.

To be considered and classified emotionally disturbed, specific criteria must be met based on federal legislation which includes:

(1)the child has difficulty learning which is not associated with a health factor, cognitive ability, or sensory issues;
(2)the child has difficulty with his interpersonal relationships with classmates and adults;
(3)the child demonstrates unusual types of behavior in normal circumstances;
(4)the child appears depressed or generally unhappy;
(5) the child becomes physically ill or demonstrates fears associated with school.

I think it helps to understand how they are diagnosing children in order to understand the effects this may have on their siblings. I also found this book on Amazon titled The Normal One: Life with a Difficult or Damaged Sibling by Jeanne Safer. "In this first-of-its-kind book, psychotherapist Jeanne Safer takes us into the hidden world of problem siblings and explores the far-reaching effects on the lives of those who are considered the “normal ones.” I think this book would give me an inside scoop as to what life is really from their point of view.


http://www.amazon.com/The-Normal-One-Difficult-Damaged/dp/0385337566