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Positive behavioral support refers to a set of strategies for decreasing problem behavior by emphasizing the development of social and communication skills, and creating a positive environment for learning and social growth (Koegel, Koegel, & Dunlap, 1996). A positive behavioral support (PBS) plan is a guide for the individuals supporting a student who engages in problem behavior. The PBS plan is a written document that allows a team to collaborate effectively, ensures professional accountability, and increases the consistency of behavioral support efforts (Horner, Sugai, Todd, & Lewis-Palmer, 2000). An effective positive behavioral support plan is designed after a functional assessment has identified the events that precede and maintain problem behavior. The information gathered in a functional assessment is used during the positive behavioral support planning process to create an environment that naturally reduces the likelihood of problem behavior, and highlights social and communication skills that a student needs in order to be successful in school. For more information on conducting a functional assessment, consult the Content Map at the Orientation Level of this module. Although each positive behavioral support module is an instructional package that can be used independently, all of the positive behavioral support modules are interdependent. For instance, it is important to master the information contained in the Functional Assessment module in order design an effective positive behavioral support plan. Multiple behavioral support strategies are often needed in order to reduce a student's problem behavior. Therefore, the instructional content will be stronger if the modules are used together. The content map provides an outline of the Academy PBS modules in a numbered sequence, however, this order does not indicate their importance. The graphic below provides one way of understanding the relationship of the Academy Positive Behavioral Support modules.  The module is meant to introduce you to positive behavioral support planning. This module will describe how information gathered in the functional assessment is used to design and implement multiple interventions strategies that are logically linked to a team's hypothesis regarding the function maintaining a problem behavior. Disclaimer The Positive Behavioral Support Online Academy Modules have been designed for teachers working with students in both general and special education. Fictional case study examples and vignettes across age groups and grade levels are provided in order to demonstrate how positive behavioral support strategies can be applied in diverse settings and situations. Pictures of students appearing in the modules have been used with permission and do not represent actual individuals. |
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