Purpose: The Gentle Persuasive Approaches (GPA) curriculum was developed as an adjunct to other educational initiatives that were part of Ontario, Canada's Alzheimer Strategy. GPA emphasizes that an individual's unique personal history has a direct application to the interpretation of and response to their behavior. It incorporates strategies into…

This study compared types of differential reinforcement of other behavior (DRO), namely, reward DRO (reward for omission of problem behavior), escape DRO (termination of instruction contingent on omission of problem behavior), and combined DRO. The combined DRO approach was most effective in reducing behavior problems of three adolescents with…

Ratings on the acceptability, intrusiveness, restrictiveness, and efficacy of 18 commonly used interventions for decelerating behaviors were obtained from 58 special educators of severely handicapped students. Results suggested a lack of confidence in intervention efficacy and a lack of discriminant validity for the constructs of restrictiveness…

The effectiveness of a classroom-based social skills training program was evaluated with 14 elementary grade children having social competence problems. The program emphasizes direct verbal explanation and modelling of social skills along with guided practice, role playing and feedback. (Author/DB)

This study evaluated use of a parent coach in teaching positive parenting skills to four parents with noncompliant children. The parents successfully learned and used the skills-based teaching techniques, the reward system, and the self-monitoring strategies. Child compliance with parental instruction improved. (Contains references.) (DB)

The consensus statement of a panel of experts on treatment of destructive and self-injurious behaviors in persons with developmental disabilities addresses such areas as approaches used to manage these behaviors; evidence for the effectiveness of various approaches; the risks and benefits of the various approaches; recommendations; and needed…

This study assessed patterns of parental responding to five children (ages four through seven) whose principal problem was noncompliance. Assessment data on parental error response patterns formed the basis for individualized instruction of parents. Results indicated the parent-instruction training procedure was effective in creating appropriate…

The efficacy of guided compliance and high-probability instructional sequences was compared with two young children with disabilities and noncompliant behavior. Levels of compliance were higher under guided compliance than under high-probability instructional sequences. Parents were able to learn to implement treatments accurately and reported…

A study examined the use of sensory integration techniques to reduce the maladaptive behaviors that interfered with the learning of nine high school students with mental impairments attending a special school. Maladaptive behaviors identified included rocking, toe walking, echolalia, resistance to change, compulsive behaviors, aggression,…

A review of nine studies on the efficacy of metacognitive interpersonal problem-solving training with students who have learning and behavior problems found demonstrated cognitive gains but less success in demonstrating that such gains were subsequently applied to actual behavior or generalized to other social behavior. (DB)

This study, with four preschool children who displayed difficulty maintaining independent on-task behavior, found they were able to learn a self-monitoring strategy (comprising self-talk, self-appraisal, and self-recording) and to maintain the targeted behavior improvements upon removal of the prompts. (DB)

Three mentally retarded students (ages 9-12) who exhibited challenging behaviors to escape from academic demands and to receive social attention were taught alternative assistance-seeking and attention-getting phrases. Data indicated that the intervention reduced challenging behavior. The results transferred across settings, and were maintained 18…

A review of 27 studies found that self-monitoring can be successfully used with special education students to decrease inappropriate classroom behavior and to increase attention to task, positive classroom behaviors, and some social skills. Self-monitoring also appears to increase the likelihood of generalizing learned behaviors to new settings.…

A retrospective review of 51 studies from 22 journals (1976 to 1990) concerning generalization of social skills training with preschool children was conducted. Strategies employed by the most successful studies were identified, such as addressing functional target behaviors; using prompts, positive reinforcement, and feedback strategies; and…

A study compared the effectiveness of a 1-day parent workshop to improve parental self-efficacy in the management of problem behaviors associated with Asperger syndrome and six individual sessions. Parents in both intervention groups reported fewer problem behaviors compared to controls. Mothers reported a significantly greater increase in…