Association for Behavior Analysis International

Meaningful skill development is one overarching purpose for applied work in behavior analysis. During this symposium, a literature review highlighting the tools for meaningful goal setting, a progressive approach to rapport building with clients, and a survey about safety experiences of professionals working directly with clients will be presented. The themes of assent, social validity, and meaningful curriculum are exemplified by the data reported in each project. A focus of this symposium is the guidance for future research in practice in these areas in addition to the findings in each area.

This symposium is intended for behavior analysts with more than five years of experience working with individuals with different disability labels across a variety of environments and situations. The goal is to provide background training on three of the more complex issues facing practitioners today.

In order to promote best outcomes across the lifespan and thereby improve overall quality of life for individuals on the autism spectrum, it is critical that goals written and interventions prescribed prior to the transition to adulthood are meaningful and highly socially valid. This presentation will provide an overview of available assessment and curriculum tools commonly used in the field of applied behavior analysis to guide goal development. An analysis of skills contained within each tool across various important skill domains will be reviewed. Implications and recommendations will be discussed.

Rapport is an important component of ABA programs, but has historically been defined with great subjectivity and variability. The presenter will discuss rapport as a measure of assent, why this is especially important for practitioners today, and present preliminary findings of a study training staff to build rapport with children with autism using a progressive approach to rapport-building. Future directions for studies of assent, rapport, and training will be discussed.

The direct support professionals (DSP) working in group homes in adult services are important consumers of behavior analytic services. They often have the opportunity to express their acceptance and adherence to interventions during team meetings and their experience guides decision making for important support strategies around the balance of safety and dignity of the individuals they support. A survey was conducted across multiple group homes in adult services in Massachusetts to gain an understanding of the past experiences of safety concerns by DSPs. The data show varying levels of experience with concerns such as opinions around pedestrian safety, carrying cash, and wearing appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). Analysis and discussion of these data will be presented. The findings of this survey are relevant to seeking information to better inform interventions and for ongoing consideration of the least restrictive environment.