Individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID) often have skill deficits and engage in problem behaviors as a result. Furthermore, individuals with ID can develop maladaptive or problematic behaviors to meet their wants and/or needs as a result of their inability to communicate. Their direct care staff and caregivers are tasked with teaching these individuals new skills, teach replacement behaviors, and/or increase communication skills in order to increase the health, safety, and overall quality of the individual’s life. Errorless Learning (EL) and Functional Communication Training (FCT) are two strategies based on applied behavior analysis (ABA) principles that can be utilized when working with individuals with ID. EL is a teaching strategy …show more content…
FCT is based on the theory that if you can teach an individual to replace problematic behaviors with socially acceptable communication, which serve the same function, then the problematic behaviors will decrease or extinguish. Since the mid-1980s researchers have consistently shown the effectiveness of FCT to address both the communication and behavioral needs. According to The National Standards Project, Phase 2 (NSP2), FCT is an emerging intervention (2015, p.71). Emerging interventions are interventions in which one or more studies suggest they may produce favorable outcomes but additional high quality studies are needed that consistently show these interventions to be effective for individuals with ASD (NSP2, 2015). The NSP2 seeks to provide the strength of evidence supporting educational and behavioral interventions that target the core characteristics of ASD, describe the age, diagnosis, and skills/behaviors targeted for improvement associated with intervention options, identify the limitations of the current body of research on autism interventions, and offer recommendations for engaging in evidence-based practice for ASD (NSP, p.9, …show more content…
FCT has been effective with a different levels of expressive language skills. Carr and Durand’s (1985) study included individuals with the capability to speak full sentences while Falcomata et al. (2013) showed FCT was effective with individuals with limited to no verbal skills. Furthermore, Carr and Durand (1985) along with Fisher et al. (1998) showed FCT was effective with children and adolescence, Falcomata et al. (2013) showed FCT was effective for young children, and Chezan et al. (2014) showed FCT has been effective for adults. FCT has been effective with a variety of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities such as individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), brain damage, developmental delays, mental health diagnoses, seizures, and mild to severe intellectual disabilities (Carr & Durand, 1985; Chezan et al., 2014; Falcomata et al., 2013; Fisher et al., 1998). Studies have shown that FCT can reduce self-injurious, self-stimulatory, aggressive, disruptive, disturbing or bizarre, and even inappropriate sexual
Beck, MD, provides the understanding of how dysfunctional thinking is common to all psychological disturbances and can influence a person’s mood and behaviors and vice versa ( ). Through CBT, the therapist looks deeper into the client’s thoughts-their beliefs about themselves, the world, and others. When these thoughts are changed to a more positive view, behaviors and feelings often will project a more positive change as well. With adolescents who struggle with Oppositional Defiant Disorder, CBT has been shown to be quite effective in treating this disorder. It is used often times to break the cycle of emotion-thought-behavior. The cycle is explained as a person feeling an emotion which then leads to a particular thought that makes them uncomfortable which then leads to the negative behavior occurring that then creates another negative feeling and the cycle continues. CBT is then used to change this cycle by creating a more realistic thought that the child can then view in terms where they are more under control and can help them to see their fallacies in thinking, which then lead to them being able to behave in a more appropriate way. ( ) Children often do not look or even understand these thoughts or feelings and thus then act impulsively with their behaviors. With Tanyia, CBT has helped her in addressing her feelings of inadequacy and abandonment, which then create the thoughts that she is not loved or that no one
STANCLIFFE, R.J., HARMAN, A.D., TOOGOOD, S., MCVILLY, K., 2007. Australian Implementation and Evaluation of Active Support. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 30(3), pp. 211-227.
... cited in Dorey et al., 2009). This large percentage indicates that extinction of these reinforcers could lead to a decrease in these behaviors. An earlier study supported this claim by conducting research with children with Autism engaging in SIBs. Hanley, Pizaaz, Fisher, and Maglieri (2005) developed a study with a young boy with Autism who engaged in SIBs. After a functional assessment, the researchers found that his behaviors had been maintained by tangibles and attention. Whenever the subject began producing maladaptive behaviors, his mother would present a toy and verbal attention in order to elicit calmness. Similar to the research completed by Dorey et al. (2009), the researchers extinguished this reinforcement and rewarded alternative positive behaviors. When this was carried out, the SIBs decreased and more acceptable forms of communication were utilized.
...c Observation Schedule, Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale, and McArthur Communication Development Inventory to measure the communication and aversive behavior frequency of the participants. After the procedures were complete, results demonstrated that advances were made in both of the dependent measures that utilized ABA with NET and DTT combined (Matson & Konst, 2013, p. 476). Comparable results were also found by Zachor and Ben-Itzchak (2010) who conducted a similar study with more dependent measures including communication, language, comprehension, daily living skills, motor skills, visual perception, and social behaviors (as cited in Matson & Konst, 2013). Thus, this research demonstrates that comprehensive ABA programs can be an ideal method of treatment not only for school-aged children and adults with ASD, but for EI individuals as well (Matson & Konst, 2013).
Finally, I do not believe that the problem per se is on the FC program but in the individuals that they are using to facilitate the communication between the child with autism and the people around them. I am not saying that this people have a twisted mind and that is why they type that their families sexually abused these kids, but that they are human and so can easily attach to the person and make mistakes as the one presented in both reading and video. Because as the facilitator expressed on the reading is the facilitator’s desire to connect with the child what makes them unconsciously stray from the goal of helping the kid to type by themselves.
“The Benefits of Skinner's Analysis of Verbal Behavior for Children with Autism” Behav Modif., by Sundberg, ML, and Michael J., published in 2001, summarized Oct 19, 2006
Early intervention is effective in treating autism spectrum disorder in many ways. One important way it has been proven effective by research is by increasing a child’s cognitive skills. When a child is first diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, they will likely be diagnosed as having a cognitive delay. Research shows that early invention services, such as applied behavior analysis, occupational, and speech therapy has helped increase IQ scores in children with autism spectrum disorder. In one study, children who received up to twenty hours a week of early intervention services had an average rise in IQ points of 17.6 (Solis, 2010). This increase in cognitive skills benefited children in the classroom setting. After receiving extensive early intervention treatment, children typically performed better on standardized testing. With an increase in cognitive skills and better achievement on standardized testing, children were able to be placed in less restrictive classroom settings (Smith, 199...
Children with autism have multiple characteristic impairments in their social interaction skills. This results from the lack of “Theory of Mind” in autistic individuals. Autistic children have difficulty interpreting what another person may be thinking or feeling. Social impairments may cause the child to act inappropriately in social interactions and prevent the children from truly taking part in interactions. The children have difficulty recognizing social cues and responding to cues. Autistic children have a hard time forming relationships as a result of these impairments. Social stories, Applied Behavior Analysis, and Pivotal Response Training are three therapy techniques that help children with autism learn appropriate social behavior. Social stories allow the children to practice the situation in a lower stress environment. Applied Behavior Analysis utilizes positive reinforce to teach desired skills. Pivotal Response Training allows the child to learn social skills while in a natural play environment. Learning social skills through these techniques enable the children to have more meaningful relationships and engage more in their community.
Sharing evidence-based practices combined with elements of Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBiS) has proven to be beneficial. It is imperative that students with disabilities who engage in maladaptive behaviors are exposed to proactive interventions as opposed to reactive response. A suspension may mask the issue, as the primary root of the behavior is not addressed. Creating functional equivalent replacement behaviors (FERBS) that seek to meet the behavior needs in a more appropriate fashion is vital. Current Challenges Ensuring each student with a disability has the proper behavioral supports put in place is a current challenge.
Luiselli, James K. "Verbal Language and Communication." Teaching and Behavior Support for Children and Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Practitioner's Guide. New York: Oxford UP, 2011. Print.
Students with learning disabilities in the regular classroom may have challenges that require special attention. If the teacher is able to identify the disabilities and the features associated with them then the teacher can tailor the lessons to meet the needs of the students. These may include differentiated instruction and facilitating an inclusive classroom which will see inclusive strategies employed that will cater to the needs of students with learning disabilities. These inclusive strategies can range from individualized learning programs to team and co-teaching. In some cases, the teacher can arrange for a special education teacher or arrange for a pull out program to assist students who have learning disabilities. Strategies that will also cater to learning disabilities may also include the use of technology. According to Ford 2013 ‘In some situations it may be best for students with LD to be taught in separate pull out classrooms with a teacher who can provide targeted skill instruction in areas where a student is struggling.’ ‘When provided appropriate support within this setting, many of these students can achieve academically and develop positive self-esteem and social skills. (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association 1991). They also recommend that schools should ‘require in-service programs for all school personnel to give them the knowledge and skills necessary to provide education for students with learning disabilities in the regular education classroom.’ Schools should include activities to help participants learn strategies to meet individual needs of students, foster attitudes conductive to educating students with learning disabilities in the regular education classroom, and promote
Completed Studies involving ABA therapy have shown improvements in communication, social relationship’s, and school for children who suffer from Autism Spectrum Disorder. Results also showed that ABA also increased participation in family and community activities. MY theory involves creating individual customized intervention plans that will addresses the specific need of the participant, while also teaching the parent. Logically parents are our first teachers, and with that being said if parents are trained the progress would be more significant than without their participation.
Whether it was in school, the classroom or the home environment students with disabilities may exhibit various behavioral problems. Occasionally, these behaviors are hostile, aggressive, and disruptive and may impede learning for the ones who display such behaviors as well as others. It often a challenge to deliver a lesson or maintain control of the class due to the fact that teacher may not have sufficient knowledge on how to manage these types of behaviors. In “When the Chips are Down” Richard Lavoie give helpful advice that emphasizes on dealing with behavioral issues in a successful manner and also how these problems can be anticipated before they start.
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is known as a neurodevelopmental disorder that is capable of weakening communication, behavior and socialization. Certain types of autism might not be identified until three years of life and it happens more frequently in boys compared to girls. Autism is not curable but it can be controlled using certain type of treatments as there is no specific treatment for autism. The question arises for these articles are if the treatment used was effective? There are many types of treatments that are able to control autism and the types of treatments used in these articles were behavioral involvement which is learning system based on interference approach. This will help to lessen and uphold the target’s behavior. Complementary and alternative medicine and special diets are treatments used in autism as CAM and special diets will be able to maintain autism. Communication interventions are very useful for autism and one of the main communication treatments is speech therapy. It maintains the expressive and receptive communication of children mainly it maintains the expression and enhances symbol learning. Educational therapy plays a role in treating children with autism as it supports children through the condition of visual details.
Education is a profession which requires a teacher to be able to communicate with a multitude of students on a variety of levels. There is not a class, or student for that matter, that is identical. Therefore, teachers must be able to identify and help educate students from all different types of backgrounds and at different levels. Teaching a singular subject presents difficulties, but teaching students with disabilities should not be one. There are three main teaching areas that need to be focused on when teaching a student with a learning disability. Teachers need to focus on the strategies that will assist students with reading comprehension skills, writing skills, and maintaining appropriate behaviors in a classroom setting.