A study conducted reinforcer assessments for three boys (ages 7-9) with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder who alternately received either a placebo or methylphenidate. Methylphenidate altered the relative reinforcing effectiveness of various stimuli that are often used in classroom-based behavioral treatment programs, particularly coupons…

Provides examples of programs that teach children positive behavior skills for success in life rather than resorting to traditional punishment. Looks at the Positive Education Program, Boys Town, the Westerly School District, and the New Opportunities Program. Such programs help children learn appropriate skills that replace problem behaviors.…

Shows how moving away from the token economy and contingency-contracting concepts of behavior management in the classroom is an effective way to teach self management skills to students with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Supplies detailed instructions for implementing a successful self-management program. (MKA)

This article describes the development of an autism-specific three-month parent education program by Britain's National Autistic Society (NAS). The NAS EarlyBird Programme emphasizes partnerships with parents and uses weekly group training sessions and individualized home visits to teach parents about autism, social communication, and prevention…

Presents a detailed description of the process of outpatient therapy provided to 56 children who were alleged victims of a day-care sexual abuse case. Therapists utilized a wide variety of techniques, most reflecting a psychotherapeutic approach, with some educational interventions. Examines reasons for therapy termination, and discusses…

Two elementary boys in a deaf education resource room who did not complete a writing assignment within the allotted time were subsequently given tokens contingent upon their starting promptly. The use of tokens was effective in reducing response latency. (Author/PB)

Individuals (n=178) in community sites involved with persons having severe disabilities were surveyed concerning attitudes toward the social acceptability of commonly used training techniques, including antecedent, consequence, and data collection techniques. Groups of respondents differentially rated the social acceptability of the techniques.…

Describes a cognitive-behavioral model for treating couples' negative reactions to infertility. After a discussion of why the cognitive-behavioral approach can competently address the goals of couples coping with infertility, three phases of treatment are outlined: assessment, therapy, and closure. Areas for assessment include spouses, marital…

A study evaluated teaching a technique for self-control to three adults with developmental disabilities. Concurrent fixed-duration/progressive-duration reinforcement schedules were introduced in which both smaller and larger reinforcers were available immediately. When progressively increasing delays were introduced for the larger reinforcer,…

Describes Project Adventure's Legacy program, a 12-bed, 10-month residential program for juvenile sex-offenders in Georgia. Most offenders started as victims, so the program must address their early sexual trauma. Adventure-based counseling, with its emphasis on the total mind-body experience, is especially suited for this. Sidebars present the…

Describes an 11-week course given at a nursing home to nursing home aides that focused on abnormal psychology and behavior intervention skills. Discusses the course goals, class composition, and course description. Addresses the problems and issues encountered with teaching this course to a nontraditional population in an unconventional setting.…

This article reports on the outcomes of a study that used functional communication training (FCT) with two students, (ages 6 and 15) with autism and severe mental retardation, to add information to a database assessing the potential generalized effects of FCT and to examine the role that contingencies for appropriate and problem behaviors play in…

British parents (n=141) participating in an intensive home-based behavioral intervention for a child with autism completed a questionnaire addressing issues of stress, coping, and support. Results showed that parents' stress levels were predicted mainly by psychological rather than demographic variables. Adaptive coping strategies, informal social…

Reviews investigation of therapist recommendations, an aspect of counseling that previously was vaguely understood. Results indicate a high frequency of recommendations, with most sessions containing multiple recommendations. Therapists provided eight types of recommendations; validation of internal experiences, reframing meaning, decision-making,…

This article describes the intervention strategies and quantitative analyses used to address the challenging behaviors of a 9-year-old boy with severe disabilities. A collaborative team including his mother designed and implemented functional assessment and hypotheses-based interventions that reduced problem behaviors and increased desirable…