Resurgence is the recurrence of target behavior (e.g., challenging behavior) during a worsening of reinforcement conditions (e.g., increases in response effort, decreases in alternative reinforcement). Previous studies have examined the prevalence and magnitude of resurgence during functional communication training implemented with discriminative…

Demand fading involves the removal and gradual reintroduction of demands and has been shown to effectively reduce escape-maintained challenging behavior. However, it is currently unclear if there are common demand fading practices when demand fading is used as an initial intervention rather than as a method for schedule thinning after another…

Neoliberalism, after decades of reform, continues to steer educational policies around the world. As private enterprise encroaches public education, schools are held accountable, tangled up in an internationally competitive culture of achieving benchmarks that meet technically managed standards. Not only is it academic performance that is audited…

We conducted an overview of reviews to determine the effects of naturalistic developmental behavioral interventions (NDBIs; Schreibman et al. (2015) J Autism Dev Disorders 45:2411-2428) on children with autism spectrum disorder under 8 years old. We conducted an electronic database search of Academic Search Premier, CINHAL, ERIC, Medline, and APA…

Differential reinforcement of alternative behavior (DRA) is a common strategy for escape-maintained behaviors targeted for reduction (i.e., targeted behavior) exhibited by youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities. DRA often involves various methods of prompting to ensure the instruction or task remains in place until contingencies…

This study used an intrinsic case study to investigate how interventions from applied behavior analysis impacted language development, academic progress, and the reduction of severe challenging behaviors for an 8-year-old child who is Deaf and autistic. 3 main themes were identified: language acquisition, behavioral change strategies, and academic…

Background: We aimed to identify key factors in implementing and adhering to positive behaviour support (PBS), provided by frontline staff, targeting challenging behaviours of people with intellectual disabilities living in residential group homes. Method: Using semi-structured interviews with 12 frontline staff members, we collected perspectives…

Teachers feel inadequate to face pupils' behavioural problems in schools, yet teachers are expected to play significant roles in providing and supporting pupils' appropriate social behaviour. Unfortunately, teacher education in Finland and globally seems to offer little content for behavioural support, and in-service training sessions are filling…

Functional communication training is a widely used function-based intervention to replace inappropriate and severe challenging behavior (Tiger et al., 2008). When considering which FCR topography to include in functional communication training, clinicians may consider several factors such as response effort, social significance, and preference.…

Children with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD) are at high risk of challenging behavior, yet families experience consistent barriers to affordable parent education in behavior management. This study tested the efficacy of a caregiver-focused Extensions of Community Health Outcomes (ECHO) program in delivering behavior management education and…

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic we implemented a partially online music intervention to examine the feasibility, experiences and short-term outcomes on the challenging behaviour and well-being of adults with intellectual disabilities. Method: This mixed-methods study included 10 participants with mild or moderate intellectual disabilities…

Violence by K-12 students is disturbingly common. Ensuring that schools have effective ways to identify and prevent such incidents is becoming increasingly important. Various concerning behaviors or disturbing communications, including direct threats, can precede acts of violence. Although removing every student exhibiting such behaviors might…

The Good Behaviour Game (GBG) is an interdependent group contingency intervention, previously shown to be effective in managing students' behaviour across several studies. An ABAB withdrawal design was implemented to examine the effects of the GBG on the engagement and disruptive behaviours of 12 students diagnosed principally with a mild…

Given that autistic children are hospitalized at higher rates than neurotypical peers, it is important to understand the autism-specific preparedness of healthcare providers. Certified Child Life Specialists (CCLSs) play a crucial role in pediatric hospitalizations by providing socioemotional support and coping strategies. The present study…

The current study investigated the effects of an integrative exercise intervention on the behaviours in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and if they were influenced by ASD symptom severity. Sixty-six children (7.56 ± 2.03 yrs.) with ASD were enrolled and categorised as having mild (n = 22), moderate (n = 18) or severe (n = 26)…