Practical Scripts
Practical Scripts
Decreasing Challenging
Behaviours in Students
with Autism or
Developmental Disabilities
knowledge t ranslation
in developmental disabilities
Practical Scripts for
Decreasing Challenging
Behaviours in Students
with Autism or
Developmental Disabilities
First Edition
Printed in Canada.
ii
Reader’s Note
Note: Words marked in red font are defined more fully in Appendix A: Glossary of
Terms on pp. 13-15.
iii
Acknowledgements
iv
Contents
Contents v
Introduction vii
Inappropriate Vocalizations 1
Script 1. A: Response Interruption Re-Direction (RIRD) 1
Script 1. B: Functional Communication Training 2
Spitting 5
Script 3. A: Response Cost + Noncontingent Reinforcement 5
Script 3. B: Noncontingent Reinforcement + Access to Other
Oral Stimulation 6
v
Self-Injurious Behaviour 9
Script 5. A: Differential Reinforcement 9
vi
Introduction
vii
If the increase persists (e.g., over several days), the importance
of consulting clinical professionals likewise increases. Safety
precautions may be necessary when implementing these scripts in
an educational setting.
viii
Inappropriate Vocalizations
Note: Words marked in red font are defined more fully in Appendix A: Glossary of
Terms on pp. 13-15.
Reference:
Ahrens, E. N., Lerman, D. C., Kodak, T., Worsdell, A. S., & Keegan, C. (2011).
Further evaluation of response interruption and redirection as treatment for
stereotypy. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 44(1), 95-108.
1
Inappropriate Vocalizations
Note: Words marked in red font are defined more fully in Appendix A: Glossary of
Terms on pp. 13-15.
Reference:
Hines, E., & Simonsen, B. (2008). The effects of picture icons on behavior for a
young student with autism. Beyond Behavior, 18(1), 9-17.
2
Stereotypy: Repetitive Behaviour
Note: Words marked in red font are defined more fully in Appendix A: Glossary of
Terms on pp. 13-15.
Reference:
Ahrens, E. N., Lerman, D. C., Kodak, T., Worsdell, A. S., & Keegan, C. (2011).
Further evaluation of response interruption and redirection as treatment for
stereotypy. Journal of Applied Behaviour Analysis, 44(1), 95-95-108.
3
Stereotypy: Repetitive Behaviour
Note: Words marked in red font are defined more fully in Appendix A: Glossary of
Terms on pp. 13-15.
Reference:
Conroy, M. A., Asmus, J. M., Sellers, J. A., & Ladwig, C. N. (2005). The use
of an antecedent-based intervention to decrease stereotypic behaviour in
a general education classroom: A case study. Focus on Autism and Other
Developmental Disabilities, 20(4), 223-230. doi:10.1177/10883576050200
040401
4
Spitting
Note: Words marked in red font are defined more fully in Appendix A: Glossary of
Terms on pp. 13-15.
Reference:
Bartlett, S. M., Rapp, J. T., Krueger, T. K., & Henrickson, M. L. (2011). The
use of response cost to treat spitting by a child with autism. Behavioural
Interventions, 26(1), 76-76-83. doi:10.1002/bin.322
5
Spitting
Note: Words marked in red font are defined more fully in Appendix A: Glossary of
Terms on pp. 13-15.
Reference:
Luiselli, J. K., Ricciardi, J. N., Schmidt, S., & Tarr, M. (2004). Brief functional
analysis and intervention evaluation for treatment of saliva-play. Child &
Family Behaviour Therapy, 26(3), 53-61. doi:10.1300/J019v26n03_04 ER
6
Physical or Verbal Aggression towards Others
Note: Words marked in red font are defined more fully in Appendix A: Glossary of
Terms on pp. 13-15.
Reference:
Braithwaite, K. L., & Richdale, A. L. (2000). Functional communication training
to replace challenging Behaviours across two Behavioural outcomes.
Behavioural Interventions, 15(1), 21-36.
7
Physical or Verbal Aggression towards Others
Note: Words marked in red font are defined more fully in Appendix A: Glossary of
Terms on pp. 13-15.
Reference:
Van Camp, C. M., Lerman, D. C., Kelley, M. E., Contrucci, S. A., & Vorndran,
C. M. (2000). Variable-time reinforcement schedules in the treatment of
socially maintained problem behaviour. Journal of Applied Behaviour
Analysis, 33(4), 545-557.
8
Self-Injurious Behaviour
Note: Words marked in red font are defined more fully in Appendix A: Glossary of
Terms on pp. 13-15.
Reference:
Devlin, S., Healy, O., Leader, G., & Hughes, B. M. (2010). Comparison of
behavioural intervention and sensory-integration therapy in the treatment
of challenging behaviour. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders,
41(10), 1303-1320. doi:10.1007/s10803-010-1149-x
9
Disruption of all Types
Note: Words marked in red font are defined more fully in Appendix A: Glossary of
Terms on pp. 13-15.
Reference:
Cannella-Malone, H. I., Tullis, C. A., & Kazee, A. R. (2011). Using antecedent
exercise to decrease challenging behaviour in boys with developmental
disabilities and an emotional disorder. Journal of Positive Behaviour
Interventions, 13(4), 230-239. doi:10.1177/1098300711406122
10
Disruption of all Types
Note: Words marked in red font are defined more fully in Appendix A: Glossary of
Terms on pp. 13-15.
Reference:
O’Connor, J. T., Sorenson-Burnworth, R. J., Rush, K. S., & Eidman, S. L.
(2003). A mand analysis and levels treatment in an outpatient clinic.
Behavioural Interventions, 18(2), 139-150. doi:10.1002/bin.130
11
Disruption of All Types
Note: Words marked in red font are defined more fully in Appendix A: Glossary of
Terms on pp. 13-15.
Reference:
Hines, E., & Simonsen, B. (2008). The effects of picture icons on behaviour for a
young student with autism. Beyond Behaviour, 18(1), 9-17.
12
Appendix A: Glossary of Terms
Note. The following definitions are not fully development and are
meant for quick glance reference only.
Antecedent
• Any event that comes before a behaviour
Behaviour
• Anything we say or do
Challenging Behaviour
• abnormal behaviours that are intense and frequent such that they harm
the self or others
• examples of categories of challenging behaviour
• physical and verbal aggression towards others (e.g., spitting,
hitting, and biting) and property destruction
• disruption (e.g., temper tantrums, screaming)
• stereotyped (repetitive) and self-stimulatory behaviour
• self-injurious behaviour (e.g., self-biting, skin picking, head
punching, and head hitting)
Consequence
• Events that happen immediately following the behaviour
Contingency
• An outcome that is dependent on a certain event or behaviour
• Example: A reward is contingent upon the desired behaviour of the
student (A teacher praises a student for not chewing gum in class)
Differential Reinforcement of Behaviour
• A general approach of reinforcing desirable behaviour more often and
problem behaviour less often or not at all.
• The approach can be specified in various ways: e.g., Differential
Reinforcement of Incompatible behaviour (DRI), where the desirable
behaviour is physically incompatible with the problem behaviour; in
Differential Reinforcement of Other (DRO) or Zero (DR0) behaviour,
reinforcement is given for any appropriate behaviour, so long as the
problem behaviour has not occurred.
Discrete Trials Training (DTT)
• One-on-one teaching session
• ABC trials
• Antecedent
• Behaviour
• Consequence
13
Extinction
• Withholding reinforcement of a previously reinforced behaviour,
resulting in lower frequency of that behaviour
Extinction Burst
• A short-term increase in the intensity of a behaviour after reinforcement
is withheld
• It is important to continue to withhold reinforcement of the behaviour,
otherwise you are reinforcing the more intense form of the behaviour
14
Reinforcement or Reinforcer
• Providing a consequence immediately following desirable behaviour
(e.g., rewarding with encouraging words, smiles, tangible prizes) so it
will occur more frequently
Response Interruption/Redirection (RIRD)
• Intervention used to reduce a behaviour by preventing the completion
of the behaviour and helping the person to complete an alternative
behavior
• Alternate behaviours can include motor or vocal responses that are
unrelated to the present situation (e.g., talking by answering questions,
singing, standing up, clapping hands)
Self-Injury
• Deliberate and direct harm to one’s body
• e.g., punching, slapping, pinching, scratching, biting, burning
Stereotypy
• Motor stereotypy
• Inappropriate physical movements that occur repeatedly and with
little variation
• e.g., hand flapping, body rocking, toe walking, spinning objects,
sniffing
• Vocal Stereotypy
• Inappropriate speech that is repetitive, rigid, or invariant
(unchangeable)
• Repetitive Behaviour
• Sometimes called “stimming”
• Commonly used interchangeably with stereotypy
• Repetitive body movements or repetitive movements of objects
• e.g., snapping fingers, staring at lights, rocking, putting objects in
one’s mouth, sniffing, hand flapping
• May also include vocalizations
Verbal Aggression
• Hostile use of words
• e.g., swearing, name calling, ridicule, character attacks, threat
15
16
Appendix B: Additional Resources for School Staff
17
with challenging behaviour. Topics in Early Childhood Special Education,
25, 157-166. doi:10.1177/10883576050200040401
Liu-Gitz, L., & Banda, D. R. (2010). A replication of the RIRD strategy
to decrease vocal stereotypy in a student with autism. Behavioural
Interventions, 25, 77-87. doi:10.1002/bin.297
Longano, J. M., & Greer, R. D. (2006). The effects of a stimulus-stimulus pairing
procedure on the acquisition of conditioned reinforcement on observing
and manipulating stimuli by young children with autism. Journal of Early
and Intensive Behaviour Intervention, 3(1), 62-80.
Mancina, C., Tankersley, M., Kamps, D., Kravits, T., & Parrett, J. (2000). Brief
report: Reduction of inappropriate vocalizations for a child with autism
using a self-management treatment program. Journal of Autism and
Developmental Disorders, 30(6), 599-606. doi:10.1023/A:1005695512163
Meador, S. K., Derby, K. M., McLaughlin, T. F., Barretto, A., & Weber, K.
(2007). Using response latency within a preference assessment. The
Behaviour Analyst Today, 8(1), 63-69.
Nuzzolo-Gomez, R., Leonard, M. A., Ortiz, E., Rivera, C. M., & Greer, R.
D. (2002). Teaching children with autism to prefer books or toys over
stereotypy or passivity. Journal of Positive Behaviour Interventions, 4(2),
80-87. doi:10.1177/109830070200400203
O’Connor, A. S., Prieto, J., Hoffmann, B., DeQuinzio, J. A., & Taylor, B.
A. (2011). A stimulus control procedure to decrease motor and vocal
stereotypy. Behavioural Interventions, 26(3), 231-242. doi:10.1002/
bin.335
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knowledge t ranslation
in developmental disabilities