Written by: Danielle Kessinger, M.Ed, BCBA, LBA Challenging behavior can be described as an individual’s solution to a problem and a form of communication. In order for a behavior to be categorized as challenging, it must interfere with either the individual’s learning or learning of the individual’s peers. Severe challenging behavior can result in self injury…
Public Resources & Systems for Children under 5 Curious about the public resources and systems for children under the age of five in Virginia for early education and care? Check out the statewide Needs Assessment that was recently released by the Governor in partnership with Virginia Early Childhood Foundation. Click on the links below for…
Alternative to the Standard Functional Analysis Written by: Brooke Ozz, MS, BCBA, LBA Functional behavior assessments that include descriptive assessments (e.g. FAST, MAS, or QABF), indirect assessments (e.g. interviews, observations, ABC data) and a formal functional analysis have long been the gold standard for determining the function of problem behavior. The “standard” functional analysis procedure…
Written by: Briana Judd, MS, BCBA, LBA Bullying Resources for Individuals Diagnosed with Disabilities. What is bullying? According to stopbullying.gov, “Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior among school aged children. It involves a real or perceived power imbalance and the behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time,” (Stopbullying.gov, n.d.). Studies in…
Adapting Games written by: Stacey Guzowski As teachers, service providers and caretakers of individuals with learning differences, we are constantly searching for innovative ways to enhance the learning of the students we work with. And, although there are numerous avenues to do this, one area that can be both overlooked and under-rated are good old-fashioned…
No one is “bad at meditating”: Embracing Mindfulness Meditation to Improve Health There is a large body of research supporting the fact that mindfulness meditation reduces many negative health outcomes, such as heart disease, chronic pain, anxiety, depression, and cognitive decline. Why, then, is it not more regularly practiced, especially among helping professionals? Many individuals…
By Christine Holland, BCBA, LBA In 2016, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children assisted law enforcement and families with approximately 20,500 cases of missing children. Many families and caregivers try to protect their children from abduction by specifically teaching them skills like understanding the concept of strangers, warning signs of distrustful behavior, and what…