The Process
What can I expect from a Behavior Analyst at DDRC?
A board certified behavior analyst will gather information regarding the individual and the behavior(s) of concern. The information will be gathered by conducting a functional assessment. A functional assessment identifies environmental variables that may be contributing to the occurrence of the concerning behavior. A functional assessment consists of primarily two levels.
The first level of the assessment is the intake interview. The goals of the intake interview are twofold. The first goal is to determine if the referral is appropriate. That is, will the individual benefit from behavior support? Is the behavior analyst qualified to treat this particular concern? The second goal of the intake interview is to obtain subjective information about the concerning behavior from the interdisciplinary team, parents, individual, staff, teachers and others. After the intake interview, the caregiver(s) may be asked to record data on the concerning behavior.
The second level of assessment consists of the behavior analyst observing the behavior in the natural environment and/or in the clinic setting using a one-way mirror. The natural environment may include classroom settings, home settings, day programs, vocational settings, etc. If the behavior can be observed in the clinic, certain conditions will be set up to evoke the target behavior(s) so it can be assessed, which is referred to a functional analysis.
Once the functional assessment is completed, an evaluation with treatment recommendations will be provided and reviewed with the caregiver(s). The recommendations will be written in specific detail so it's clear on how to implement the treatment strategies. The behavior analyst will train the caregiver(s) on the treatment recommendations.
All treatment follow-up will be provided in the office with the team and/or the individual. That is, the behavior analyst will be available for on going training and to answer any questions or concerns; however, this will be conducted in the office. It is up to the caregiver(s) to schedule and keep these appointments with the behavior analyst. Please see the cancellation policy for further details on cancellations.
Because there is a high demand for behavior support services, these services are time limited. The goal is to assess why the behavior(s) is occurring, to offer treatment recommendations, and to support the caregivers on how best to implement the recommendations.