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…

To observe changes in three clients with intellectual disabilities and severe behavioral problems and staff in a long-term care residential facility after redesigning the clients' rooms by making them more personal and homely, adjusting the amount of stimuli, changing the layout, connecting to the outdoor area, and using high-quality natural…

Token reinforcement procedures are used to increase appropriate behavior (e.g., completion of instructional tasks) and decrease problem behavior (e.g., aggression) in a wide array of clinical contexts. Token exchange-production schedules, which specify the number of tokens that must be accrued to produce the exchange schedule, are important…

Several studies have reported conflicting results when assessing associations between stress and repetitive behaviors in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Some factors that may have caused these discrepant results include the monitoring of a single broad category for repetitive behaviors, the heterogeneity of the participants, and…

Feeding disorders can be quite complex, with medical concerns, anatomical abnormalities, skill deficits, and behavioral or environmental components contributing to the development and maintenance of significant feeding concerns. Because of this, an interdisciplinary approach to assessment and treatment is oftentimes warranted. Within the current…

Relations between parental stress and children's behavior problems have been studied, but the role of parenting styles in these relations remains to be clarified. For families of children who are deaf or hard-of-hearing (DHH), exploring the associations among the three factors (i.e., parental stress, parenting styles, and children's behavior…

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.…

Previous studies have examined the relationship between sleep problems and challenging behaviors in school-aged children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, literature has not examined this relationship in the context of toddlers or, more specifically, toddlers with aggression. The present study was conducted to examine…

No research has been conducted on PTSD manifestation in children with severe or moderate intellectual disability (SID; IQ 20-49) and no PTSD measurement instrument was available. This pilot explores the psychometric properties of a new diagnostic instrument to investigate trauma and to classify PTSD in children with SID. The Diagnostic Interview…

Sleep problems are prevalent among autistic children and children with Rare Genetic Neurodevelopmental Disorders (RGND). Behavioral interventions are commonly used to treat sleep problems, with most involving extinction. While effective, the occurrence of a response burst (i.e., temporary worsening of the behavior) can result in a temporary…

Challenging behavior tends to increase in levels during adolescence for individuals with developmental disabilities (DD). If not addressed, this can lead to negative post-school outcomes for adolescents with DD. The purposes of this meta-analysis were to examine the effects of behavioral intervention in reducing challenging behaviors of…

Many children with autism spectrum disorder experience feeding difficulties that can lead to increased health risks (e.g., severe nutrition deficiencies, obesity-related illnesses) if left untreated. Intensive feeding programs that use behavior-analytic interventions have reported positive outcomes for treating challenging behavior associated with…

The current study adds to a growing body of behavioral research aimed at learning about changes in behavior over time. In this proof-of-concept study, functional analyses were conducted every 6-8 weeks with eight children diagnosed with ASD receiving early intervention services at a community-based clinic. The goal of this study was to develop a…

Natural supports are informal relationships with family, friends, neighbors, and community members that serve as a source of connection and support, and as a safety net. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of natural supports on different areas of quality of life of people with disabilities. Given the theorized importance of natural…

Past research suggests that children, particularly those with autism spectrum disorder, with general behavioral inflexibility to objects, persons, and environments may be at risk for feeding problems. However, questions remain about whether feeding problems are better predicted by behavioral inflexibility or sensory sensitivity, and whether…