Supporting Communication and Behaviour

Upon successful completion of this foundational course, the student will be able to:

1. Analyze the complex nature of individuals' behaviour, considering the whole individual, context, history, and possible meanings of single behaviour.

• Recognize behaviour as a powerful form of communication
• Consider influence of historical trednds, a person's history and the unique nature of an individuals situation and abilities
• Use context to understand functions of behaviour, e.g., ABC pathway, functional assessment

2. Consider the behaviour principles underlying a functional behaviour assessment.

• Use an operant definition to describe and measure behaviour
• Apply observation, recording, and information gathering skills, e.g., quantitative and qualitative data collection
• Understand principles of behaviour, e.g. stimulus, response, reinforcement
• Create a behaviour hypothesis (setting events, antecedent trigger, behaviour, consequence and function) based on the information gathered and confirm or deny with observations

3. Apply principles underlying positive behaviour support strategies.

• Faciliate communication, connections and choice as essential elements for everyone
• Apply observation, recording, and information gathering skills when developing plans
• Consider other positive approaches to enhance communicaiton, behaviour, and wellness of individual, self and others

4. Use a decision-making process to develop and facilitate behaviour supports and communication opportunities, methods and strategies.

• Consider whole person when supporting individuals, e.g., match individual's needs and abilities to strategies and supports
• Use a variety of environmental, preventative, teaching, and consequence support strategies
• Plan, gather information, develop, implement, and revise methods and tools to meet individuals' communication and bheaviour needs (quantitative, qualitative and functional observation methods

5. Practice clear communication skills verbally, written and non-verbally in assessing, implementing and revising positive behaviour support strategies and adaptions

• Listen to individual's communication including their actions, interactions and reactions
• Collaborate with others, e.g., individual, team members, families) to make throughful support decisions
• Collect ongoing data to monitor and encourage individual's progres (in utilizing AAC supports and using expected behaviours)
• Monitor, support and enhance team unity and effectiveness