Category: People
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Beyond Behaviorism: A New Lens for Assessing Behavior
Now is the time to do better. It is time for those of us in the field who conduct Functional Behavioral Assessments to move beyond behaviorism and to incorporate new learnings that welcome neurodiversity and focus on trauma-sensitive practices.
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“It hurts, please let go” stories of restraint and seclusion in North Dakota
enforcement or SROs in the school setting that may not be credentialed to work with kids. I am concerned that there is zero representation of tracking circumstances for these children charged by SROs or School Districts that address specifically the lack of fidelity to the legal binding contract of the child’s IEP (Individual Educational Plan)…
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An autistic self-advocate’s journey and voice
Often it can be hard to remember things related to trauma (probably because the data is stored ‘in the back of the mind’ in the cerebellum rather than the prefrontal cortex). My earliest memory of abuse/neglect was as a toddler and I was left outside or locked in a room by myself sometimes for hours.…
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What’s the problem with this functional behavioral assessment interview form?
A parent recently shared with me a functional behavior assessment student interview form that was sent home for her son to complete. The form, pictured below included five questions for the student to complete: So what is wrong with this form? Well, to begin with, the form assumes that all behaviors are intentional. The form…
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“Hit him if he does that.”
It was hard to bring my son to school again. He had dutifully gone to school each day, unable to tell me about what he was being subjected to, never resisting or complaining. But the day he was to start at the new school the effect the experience had had on him was plain: he…
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“Do that again and I’ll lock you in the bathroom…”
One day in August 2013, I walked into the cafeteria of my son’s school, looking to speak with his teacher. The room was crowded and noisy, filled with disabled kids, their teachers, and aides, assembling before the start of a day of Extended School Year (ESY) services or summer school. I couldn’t get very close…
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The Conflict Cycle for Educators
Moving From Nervous System States of Protection to States of Growth Today’s guest author is Lori Desautels PhD. Lori is an Assistant Professor in the College of Education at Butler University College of Education, a former special education teacher and school counselor and currently teaching applied educational neuroscience / brain and trauma to undergraduates and graduate candidates in the…
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Behavior is communication, but what does the body tell us?
In this article, we are going to explore the meaning beneath the statement, “Behavior is communication.” These words have been ringing in educators’ ears for quite a while, and cognitively we understand this, but do we feel what this means as we interact with our students all day long?
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Sanctioned Violence: Restraint Use in Indiana Medicaid Waiver Settings
Restraint is currently a hot topic with the media and lawmakers alike due to the recent deaths of people in custody at the hand of police officers. There are calls across the nation for police departments to ban the use of chokeholds and other dangerous restraints. But, what about restraint use in other settings besides…
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Urgent: Support for Maine Keeping All Students Safe Act (LD 1373)
e Maine House recently passed LD 1373, but the Maine Senate, unfortunately, rejected it. The most controversial part was the seclusion ban. The House has therefore amended the bill to strike the seclusion ban. While this is extremely disappointing, the bill still contains worthwhile measures, such as a ban on prone restraint.