The first step in treating any problem behavior involves conducting a thorough functional assessment. Information derived from this assessment is used to guide selection of the most appropriate intervention. This workshop presents methods for determining carrying out a functional assessment. It addresses how to conduct functional assessment interviews, completing and interpreting rating scales and behavioral checklists, conducting direct observation of problem behavior, and generating hypotheses regarding the function of the problem behavior. Assessment forms and data sheets will be provided.

As a result of taking this workshop you will be able to:

• List, describe, and give examples of the four specific behavioral functions.
• Distinguish between assessment and analysis.
• Describe the functional assessment interview and its pros and cons.
• Describe the descriptive analysis of behavior and its pros and cons.
• Describe the functional analysis of behavior and its pros and cons.
• Be able to carry out a functional assessment in an ethical and humane manner.
• Generate hypotheses about the possible environmental determinants of behavior based on assessment data.

Children with autism and related disorders are often difficult to teach. However, with appropriate teaching methods these children can make significant learning gains. This workshop presents state-of-the-art methods for teaching children with autism and related disabilities. The methods presented in this workshop are the result of decades of Applied Behavior Analysis research. You'll learn the most effective methods for teaching cooperation, giving instructions, reinforcing correct responses, prompting correct responses, fading prompts, teaching new skills, and many other critical teaching skills for this challenging population.

Behavior analysts, teachers, parents and others have an ethical, and sometimes legal, mandate to provide an environment which fosters learning and treatment. However, many of the issues related to creating such environments are often unknown or ignored. This workshop discusses many critical variable related to effective environments and gives specific strategies for creating such environments. Among the areas to be covered are: fostering competent and caring caregivers, creating an engaging environment, teaching and maintaining functional skills, ameliorating behavior problems, creating least restrictive setting, establishing a stable and safe environment, creating an environment that the learners chooses to attend, and more.

As a result of taking this workshop you will be able to:

•  Assess own environment to determine how conducive it is to teaching/treatment
•  State the “Right to Effective Treatment”
•  State the critical elements of an effective environment
•  Implement several methods for improving each of the critical elements of an effective environment

Many behavioral procedures have been demonstrated to be effective in treating problem behavior. Selecting the most appropriate behavior-change procedure is often a challenge to the practitioner. This workshop will present a decision-making model for selecting the most appropriate behavioral intervention. The model includes the function(s) of the problem behavior, characteristics of the learner’s social and physical environment, and consideration of available resources. In addition, the critical elements of the behavioral treatment plan and methods for training others to carry out the plan will be discussed. Actual case studies will be presented.

As a result of taking this workshop you will be able to:

• Determine if medical intervention is indicated
• Determine if environmental rearrangement is indicated
• Determine the behavioral interventions likely to be effective for a given behavioral function
• Select the most appropriate intervention from the array of potential behavioral interventions
•  Write an intervention plan that contains all necessary information
• Train others to carry out the treatment plan

The Individualized Education Plan (IEP) is the document that guides a child's education. As such, it is the most critical element in determining whether or not a child receives a quality education. When developed and implemented properly, the IEP is the student's and parent's single best educational resource. Unfortunately, many IEPs are improperly developed and/or implemented. This prevents the child from receiving an appropriate education. In this workshop, participants will learn how to identify effective & ineffective goals/objectives, rewrite ineffective goals/objectives, and to write goals and objectives that guarantee student progress. Common errors will be discussed along with specific methods for avoiding and correcting these problems. Participants will have the opportunity to write their own objectives and receive expert feedback about them.

Visual schedules are used widely for children who have autism. However, they are often used in such a way that reduces their potential effectiveness. This workshop will address the essential elements of an effective visual schedule; how to determine if a child will benefit from a visual schedule; how to determine if a child is ready for a visual schedule, how to prepare a child who is not ready, how to prepare a schedule, and how to teach the child to use the schedule. Each participant will have the opportunity to prepare their own visual schedule.