Behavioral Directions, LLC, an Autism Consulting Firm Presents Seminar on Reducing Challenging Behaviors in Children at Environmental Protection Agency on January 8, 2009

Herndon, VA, January 01, 2009 --(PR.com)-- Stacey McIntyre, MA, BCBA of Behavioral Directions, LLC (Herndon, Fairfax County, Virginia) will present an invited address to staff and associates at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Maternal Wellness Group at a Brown Bag Lunch Event on January 8, 2009. The meeting will be held in the Washington, DC area. Ms. McIntyre will address strategies to manage problem behaviors often exhibited by children with an emphasis on appropriately handling behaviors seen during certain developmental stages (e.g., “terrible 2s”). In their practice, Behavioral Directions, LLC typically works with parents and school personnel to address behavioral difficulties seen in children with autism spectrum disorders and related developmental disabilities. The introductory presentation will provide an overview of assessment and treatment of challenging behaviors, including aggression, tantrums, self-injury and non-cooperation. Direct and indirect functional assessment methods used to identify the four common functions of problem behavior (e.g., escape from nonpreferred activities, attention, access to preferred items or activities and internal or automatic reinforcement) will be presented. Information will be discussed on how to use the results obtained from a functional assessment to develop function-based treatment approaches, often termed “Behavior Intervention Plan”, using antecedent modifications and reinforcement-based procedures. School personnel are often the initial participants in the process which may be tied in with the student’s Individual Education Plan (IEP), though parents play an important, informative role in conducting an adequate assessment.

Dr. Jane Barbin, founder of Behavioral Directions, LLC, noted that these ABA strategies have received strong empirical support in published research. She also stressed the importance of evaluating treatments for children, teens and adults with autism based upon the data, as this is critical to avoid utilizing ineffective and minimally effective interventions. Also for typically-developing children, the focus of this presentation, the utilization of a data collection system to measure program efficacy and ongoing progress is important and will be reviewed as well along with graphical representations of function-based treatment procedures.

For more information about Behavioral Directions, LLC visit www.behavioraldirections.com.

Behavioral Directions, LLC in Herndon, Fairfax County, VA is a consulting firm of Board Certified Behavior Analysts and psychological professionals with extensive experience serving individuals with autism spectrum disorders, challenging behaviors and related developmental disabilities using Applied Behavior Analysis. All providers are Board Certified Behavior Analysts. Behavioral Directions, LLC provides assessment and intervention services in home, school and community settings with a commitment to using only science-based autism treatment procedures. Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), a methodology supported by over 40 years of research and based on principles of learning is utilized. Skinner’s Analysis of Verbal Behavior, to promote communication and other skills, is emphasized in service delivery. Quality services and programming is highly valued at Behavioral Directions, LLC.

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