| Abstract: Behavioral cusp analysis (BCA) is proving to be a powerful social improvement procedure for directing person-centered planning and positive behavioral support exchanges for persons with autism. In this presentation, the three panel members will interactively discuss (a) the theoretical importance of BCA in terms of behavioral assessment; (b) use collected case study data to demonstrate how modest behavioral cusp changes have resulted in significant changes in the overall behavior repertoires of children; and (c) provide additional narrative of how explicit behavioral cusps, with seemingly uncertain social validity, have dramatically expanded learning opportunities, not only for persons with autism, but also for their families, friends, caregivers, and community acquaintances. Five criteria useful for selecting and prioritizing potentially important BCA outcomes will anchor our panel discussion. These include (a) access to new reinforcers, contingencies, or environments; (b) generativeness; (c) competition with inappropriate responses; (d) number and relative importance of people affected; and (e) social validity (Bosch & Fuqua, 2001; Smith, Edelen-Smith & Olvey, 2006; Smith, McDougall & Edelen-Smith, 2006; Smith, Ala`i-Rosales & Edelen-Smith 2007). |