Autism Spectrum Disorders Decreasing Behavior
These training materials were created for the Autism Center of Excellence at Western Michigan University. Content and format will be updated in the near future to address current accessibility standards. If you are unable to access the content in this section, please contact the imp support team for assistance.
Behavioral Technician Training on Applied Behavioral Analysis Part 5: Decreasing Behavior by Krista Kennedy, MS, LLP, BCBA is the fifth of a planned seven-part series providing Behavior Technician Training on Applied Behavioral Analysis to direct care workers. Part 5 further explores how reinforcement decreases behavior and begins discussing how ethical considerations must be considered when utilizing strategies to reduce the behavior. It will take approximately an hour to complete this course.
Defining Decreasing Behavior
Participants of this course will be provided with the working definition of decreasing behavior in the framework of Applied Behavioral Analysis.
Reinforcement, Compliance, and Extinction
This course will cover the various effects that these three techniques can have on your clients. This course will also provide evidence-based best practices on using extinction in regards to providing time outs for your clients.
The Do's and Dont's of Time Outs
Participants of this course will be provided with best practices on using Time Outs as a reinforcement tactic. The subject matter experts will provide examples and evidence-based tactics on the pros and cons of this tactic.
Lower order motor actions (i.e., stereotyped movements, repetitive manipulation of objects, and repetitive forms of self-injurious behaviors) are characterized by repetition of movement, and more complex or “higher order” cognitive behaviors (i.e., compulsions, rituals and routines, insistence on sameness, and circumscribed interests) are characterized by a rigid adherence to some rule or mental set.
- Discuss how reinforcement is used to decrease behavior
- Learn tactics for teaching compliance
- Define Extinction and how it relates to Time Out
- Discuss Time Out: the "Do's and Dont's"
- Understand ethical considerations that must be made when using strategies to reduce behavior
Krista Kennedy, MS, LLP, BCBA
Director of Behavioral Services
Krista Kennedy is the Director of Behavioral Services at Children's Hospital of Michigan Autism Center. Her work at the center involves the development and oversight of all the behavior programming and the behavioral services staff. Prior to her work at Children's Hospital, she worked in the field of autism for over 10 years with families and schools throughout the Metro Detroit area. Krista earned degrees in ABA and behavioral psychology from Eastern and Western Michigan Universities. She is enrolled in the Educational Psychology Department at Wayne State University as a PhD candidate. Krista has developed and instructed behavioral intervention and theory courses at Eastern Michigan University, Eastern Michigan University and Wayne State University. She also sits on a task force for Wayne County to develop a system of care for people with autism.
Course Progress
Course Content
What People Are Saying
Very informational and I really enjoyed the real-life scenes to give the viewer a better understanding of the techniques being used."
