This study analyzed specific stimuli reinforcing destructive behavior in two 11-year-olds males with mental retardation and severe destructive behavior problems maintained by attention. The use of concurrent schedules of reinforcement identified alternatives to the reinforcing verbal reprimands and led to development of effective treatments to…

The second of two articles, this article describes a qualitative analysis of one family's experience during a 10-month process of assessment and intervention for the behavior challenges of a 9-year-old with severe disabilities. The impact of the positive behavioral support on the child and his family is highlighted. (CR)

This commentary discusses the need to review priorities embodied in systems providing services to children with disabilities and their families, and how special educators are trained. It urges educators to look outside of schools to the broader community to plan for full inclusion and the supports necessary to facilitate true participation. (CR)

This study evaluated behavior support training for a residential and vocational support agency. Three training sessions were provided to managerial and direct-care staff, during which trainees worked in teams to plan or complete functional assessments and behavior support plans for focus clients. Frequency of problem behavior was reduced for all…

This article evaluates three early intervention approaches--applied behavior analysis, TEAACH (Treatment and Education of Autistic and Related Communication Handicapped Children), a structured classroom-based program, and relationship therapy/"floor time"--to identify which aspects of each approach complement individual learning styles…

A naturalistic behavioral assessment and intervention program over a 3-year period for a New Zealand girl (age 5) with Rett syndrome is described. The most significant reduction in hand mannerisms and other excess behaviors was related to positive social interactions and play that allowed for communication at the affective level. (Author/CR)

This article describes the following processes for encouraging self-management in middle-school students in inclusive classrooms: identify a problem behavior, define the target, collect baseline data, schedule a conference with the student, select self-management procedures, teach the student to use self-management procedures, implement…

A sample of 103 intervention outcome studies was considered to confirm best practices for intervention for challenging behavior in persons with intellectual disability and acquired brain injury and to establish service conditions associated with its effectiveness. Evidence supports the effectiveness of behavioral interventions. Problems with…

This introduction discusses how creative programmatic activities can be designed to address the needs of preservice and inservice educators. It describes a practicum that provided preservice students in early childhood special education opportunities to apply consultation skills to teachers working with children with disabilities and an inservice…

This article suggests possible applications of experimental analyses using analogues to empirically verify results of functional assessments in classrooms for students with autism and related disabilities. Analogue assessments involve creating conditions in which antecedents and consequences are held constant and specific variables suspected to…

Describes a college course that taught preventive mental health skills to adults by exploring diverse cognitive-behavioral skills that facilitate coping, are preventive in nature, and are suitable for learning by healthy individuals in educational settings. It focused on anger management, anxiety and worry management, self-esteem enhancement,…

Single-case analyses were conducted of the dosage and time-course effects of methylphenidate on disruptive classroom behavior, math and reading performance, and social engagement. In contrast to previous studies, clear individual differences were demonstrated: across children; across academic, behavioral, and social domains of functioning; for…

This study evaluated use of a token reinforcement program to reduce three inappropriate behaviors of an elementary student with learning disabilities. Results indicated that awarding tokens for the absence of the target behaviors was effective. Practical aspects of the token program, as well as difficulties of employing data collection in an…

The current study describes an assessment sequence that may be used to identify individualized, effective, and preferred interventions for severe problem behavior in lieu of relying on a restricted set of treatment options that are assumed to be in the best interest of consumers. The relative effectiveness of functional communication training…

Positive Behavior Facilitation (PBF) is a comprehensive approach to understanding and intervening in the behavior of youth. Research clearly indicates that the behavior of children is best understood and ultimately managed by comprehensive strategies and techniques that consider not only what a child is doing but also why a child is demonstrating…