This study explores the moods and behavior of an emotionally impaired child before and after therapeutically oriented painting activities and assesses the effectiveness of this assistance method. The study employs qualitative research methods. The subject of this study is a fourth-grade emotionally impaired student who participated in painting activities twice each week, for a total of 16 sessions. Data was collected throughout the sessions via photography, audio and video recordings and analyzed for verbal descriptions, non-verbal expression, and interaction with the researchers. In addition, assessment, observation, and interviews of the student's mother and school personnel (administrators, guidance personnel, resource class teachers, guidance teachers, and class mothers) were used to gain an understanding of how effective therapeutically oriented painting activities are as a means of helping emotionally impaired children. This study reached the following conclusions from the research findings: (1) There was a significant improvement in the child¡¦s interpersonal relationships following the painting activities. (2) The child participated actively in family activities, and displayed positive interaction with his mother and older brother. (3) The child displayed significant positive changes in terms of innate abilities, learning motivation, self-affirmation, and personal growth. (4) The child's in-school performance displayed significant progress. (5) The child's communication abilities increased dramatically.

This study involved families of young children with autism spectrum disorders to examine the feasibility of implementing an adapted version of the school-based Prevent-Teach- Reinforce (PTR) model. This research included two families who developed and implemented the intervention for their children in collaboration with the researcher. The PTR manual was modified for use in a family context. The PTR intervention was tested using a multiple baseline design across routines. Procedural fidelity was assessed during training and coaching, as well as family implementation fidelity and social validity. To examine the potential efficacy of the adapted PTR intervention, the children’s target problem behavior and functionally equivalent alternative behavior were measured using video observation across experimental conditions including a generalization probe. Results indicated that the adapted PTR model is associated with reduction in child problem behavior and increases in alternative behavior. This study expanded the current research on the PTR model and extended its use to a novel setting and population so that a standardized model for positive behavior support implementation can be developed in the family context.

Students with persistent challenging behaviors are associated with negative school, community, and transition outcomes. The presence of challenging behavior is due in part to social skills deficits that are in need of remediation. Although social skills interventions are commonly provided to this student population, they are often ineffective at promoting behavior generalization and maintenance, which is necessary for improving social outcomes and developing social competency. Social skills interventions also fail to consider the individual characteristics of social skills deficits when they are conceptualized. Function-based social skills and replacement behavior interventions may be effective at addressing these concerns. This dissertation study investigated the effects of function-based social skills and replacement behavior interventions on the problem behavior of three students who attended a public elementary school in rural Central Texas. Results show an experimental effect for two of the three participants when observation data on challenging behaviors for baseline and treatment phases were compared. Generalization of behavior change was also measured for all three participants, with analysis of observation data indicating a positive effect for two of the three participants. vi Maintenance of behavior change was strong for two participants. The limited effectiveness of the intervention for one participant may be explained in part by the absence of intervention components that may have been critical to student success. Lower levels of implementation fidelity also may explain the limited effectiveness of the intervention. A social validity measure indicated that participating teachers and an assistant teacher viewed the interventions positively. A comparison of pre and post intervention scores on the teacher report form of the Behavior Assessment Scale for Children show some improvement in student composite scores, particularly Externalizing Behaviors. However, student composite scores still fell in the Clinically Significant or At-Risk range. / text

Behavior management is arguably the cornerstone of good teaching and this is particularly so in traditional educational school settings. In Thailand, the most common strategy for managing problem behavior is the use of the Ministry of Education's Code of Conduct for all children. However, reactive strategies produce negative side effects in terms of student prognosis, inclusion, and also teacher stress. There is currently no data regarding the types of problem behaviors experienced by teachers working in special residential schools for students with visual impairments. Therefore, the goals of this thesis are to examine teacher perceptions regarding the types of problems they typically encounter and the behavior management practices they use in their classrooms. Thai teachers working in these special residential schools completed a 61-item questionnaire rating the extent to which they agreed or disagreed that problem behaviors were observed and the extent to which they found specific behavior management practices effective. Results suggested Thai teachers occasionally experienced problem behaviors related to distractibility and stereotypy, which can interfere with instructional activities and learning. However, the teachers infrequently encountered more serious behaviors such as aggression or self-injury. Teachers also reported using more proactive instructional approaches and positive disciplinary practices to keep students engaged in instruction as opposed to more punitive management practices, like reprimands or office referrals. Results are discussed in the context of behavior management practices across traditional and self-contained educational settings, and a focus on transition practices to facilitate including more Thai students with visual impairments into traditional educational settings with their non-disabled peers.

The present study extends previous research on acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) by using a new ACT protocol, the Fusion Management System (Dixon, 2013 in press) with a new population. Participants were 2 high functioning children with autism: an 8-year old boy and a 12 year-old girl. Using a multiple baseline design, 2 participants were exposed to 15 hours of therapy over the span of 12 weeks. Behavioral data was taken for each participant by their parent(s) on a problematic behavior that was of concern to them. Prior to and following the ACT intervention, both participants took three psychometric measures that were designed to measure ACT related processes: the Child and Adolescent Mindfulness Measure (CAMM), the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II (AAQ-II), and the Avoidance and Fusion Questionnaire for Youth (AFQ-Y). Following the intervention one participant improved on all measures of the ACT related processes and the other participant's score improved on the AFQ-Y and slightly deteriorated on the CAMM and AAQ-II. During the intervention phase of this study both participants' problematic behavior significantly improved. Implications of the study and future research are also discussed.

The current study evaluated the efficacy of a training series designed to teach typical school-based behavior support professionals to build behavioral interventions from functional behavioral assessment (FBA) information. The study was conducted in three stages. First, a descriptive assessment examined the extent to which typical school team leaders demonstrated knowledge of core behavior support plan (BSP) development features following a four-part training series on the development and implementation of function based supports. The second stage of the study assessed the extent to which participants who met criteria for BSP development during training were then able to lead a typical school team in building a BSP that was perceived by expert behavior analysts as "technically sound." In the final stage, a nonconcurrent multiple-baseline design was used to determine if there is a functional relationship between implementation of BSPs led by typical school-team leaders who received the training and improvement in the level of student problem behavior. Thirteen school professionals participated in four 1-hour "From Basic FBA to BSP" training sessions. A post test analysis of BSP knowledge indicated that the participants ended training with the knowledge needed to use FBA information to develop student BSPs. Six of the 13 professionals went on to lead school-based teams in the development of BSPs that were rated by outside experts as technically adequate. Direct observation data were collected on student behavior during the implementation of five of the six resulting BSPs, and decreases in problem behavior and increases in academic engagement were seen for all five student participants. Additionally, participating team leaders and classroom staff indicated that they found the procedures and tools used to be both acceptable and effective. These results document preliminary findings supporting the efficacy of a four-part training series used to teach typical school staff to use FBA data in designing student BSPs. Further implications for practice in schools and directions for future research are discussed.

Paraprofessionals spend the most time with the neediest students, but receive the least amount of training and support. All target students in the study had developmental disabilities, were between the ages of three and five, and had a history of challenging behavior. Paraprofessionals in the study were recruited because they had the least experience and training administering behavior support plans (BSPs) in their setting. A multi-level consultation model was used to train paraprofessionals (i.e., teaching assistants) to implement individualized BSPs. First, paraprofessionals were trained in a one-on-one setting how to implement the BSPs using behavioral skills training. Next, adherence to the BSP was monitored by independent observers and additional support was delivered contingent on meeting an adherence criterion. Through a cascading logic, data showed that paraprofessionals engaged in immediately and significantly higher levels of BSP adherence following application of the multilevel consultation model, and as a result, students engaged in immediately and significantly lower rates of challenging behavior (Tau-U = -.97 to -1), which maintained over time. Further, all adult participants rated the procedures as highly acceptable. Thus, with minimal training provided to each paraprofessional across the study (M = 151.2 minutes), and dramatic observed changes in challenging behavior, the multilevel consultation model proved highly efficient, effective, and acceptable.

Problem behavior is a concern for individuals with developmental disabilities. Research suggests that a release contingency time-out is effective to reduce problem behavior, but may increase the duration of time-out. Other sources recommend including a release contingency to avoid reinforcing problem behavior. It is possible clinicians generalize this concept to other domains, such as differential reinforcement with discrete-trial-training. Such a modification may be conceptualized as a tandem ratio requirement. Evidence from basic literature suggests that a tandem ratio requirement may increase a bout of responding. The current study examined effects of applied behavior analytic procedures using a bout analysis. The purpose was to identify a best-practice recommendation for clinicians to use when patterns of bout-like responding are evident, in order to efficiently decrease the duration of a bout. Three children with ASD participated. Results showed that release contingencies influenced bout-like responding in two participants. Social validity was assessed on the feasibility, efficacy, and likeability of the study. Social validity measures indicated the study had appreciable effects on problem behavior.

This licentiate’s dissertation is about how school staff talk about pupils having difficulties in relating to teachers and other pupils. It’s specific focus is on pupils which are described as “disturbing”, “troublesome”,”unruly”, “unconcentrated” or characterised by similar concepts. The main aim is to elucidate and discuss how school staff explain pupils’ difficulties, what measures they state that they undertake and what measures they consider necessary. The study is based on a social constructive approach. This means that the way we understand the world we live in is seen as shaped by social and cultural processes mediated through language. A consequence of this is that the way the staff talk about pupils in difficulties will influence how they relate to those children and how they work at solving the problems. The empirical material consists of interviews with six principals, six Special Educational Needs Co-ordinators and six class teachers from six different schools. 15 of the people interviewed work with 11–13 year olds and three of them with 7–9 year olds. The material from the interviews is categorised into themes and further analysed in order to present a systematic overview of the ways in which the staff talk about children in difficulties. The result shows that the problems are understood as complex and full of nuances. Explanations of the problems from medical/psychological perspectives have no distinguished status. It is more common that the problems are related to social conditions, family situation and school environment. The study also shows that different professional groups usually place the responsibility for solving the problems with other professional groups. The way the concerned principal looks upon the problem seems be important for the way the problem is dealt with. The way the staff studied talk about the school activities indicates that schools differ concerning issues like organisation, the role of the Special Needs Co-ordinator, co-operation between different professional groups etc. As a consequence pupils having difficulties in relating to other people will be subjected to different conditions depending on what school they attend. The school as an arena of identity creation and citizenship education will offer hence different opportunities to different children in difficulties.

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