What is PBS It is a philosophy and a set of tools It is a philosophy and a set of tools A way of thinking and doing A way of thinking and doing Positive behavior support offers a proactive process for Positive behavior support offers a proactive process for –addressing interfering behaviors, –teaching adaptive skills, and –improving quality of life.

Polk County PBS Mission And Values We are an inter-agency coalition promoting positive support to enhance the quality of life for persons with disabilities. We are an inter-agency coalition promoting positive support to enhance the quality of life for persons with disabilities. We make decisions based on: We make decisions based on: –Dignity & respect –Long-term commitment –System consistency –Person-centered –Empowerment through training, support, & education –Reducing the need for right restrictions –Promoting full citizenship and the exercise of choice

How you see me!

How I want to live!

Universal Enhancement Strategies Things of Value INTERFERING BEHAVIOR Spontaneity Positive rituals Dining out Exercising Day at the spa Dancing Sex Friends Voting Having a will Family Fishing Movies Vacationing Good Health Grilling out Music Volunteering Work Pets Hiking Religion Gardening

GEM G ood E nough for M e G ood E nough for M e –Tom Pomerantz

I have come to the frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element in my environment. It is my personal approach, which creates the climate. My daily mood makes the weather. I possess tremendous power to make a person’s life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration. I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal. In all situations, it is MY response that decides whether a crisis will be escalated or de- escalated and a person humanized or dehumanized. ( Adapted- Halm Ginott)

Life We must provide an environment that is healthy enough for a life to happen. Dan Berkowitz

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

Effective Behavioral Support..requires the design of an environment that makes interfering behaviors:

Prove It! Prove that: treating people with dignity and respect meeting unmet needs bonding decreases the frequency and intensity of an interfering behavior. Does it Matter?!

Respect – Fundamental to PBS A personal quality that is non- contingent provided without judgment and given equally to all persons. A personal quality that is non- contingent provided without judgment and given equally to all persons. People should not have to earn your respect they should be the recipient of your respect without condition. People should not have to earn your respect they should be the recipient of your respect without condition.

Defining Characteristics of PBS Person centered Person centered Collaborative on-going process Collaborative on-going process Data-driven decision making Data-driven decision making Prevention, positive, proactive strategies Prevention, positive, proactive strategies Meaningful outcomes Meaningful outcomes

If an individual doesn’t know how to read, we teach. If an individual doesn’t know how to swim, we teach. If an individual doesn’t know how to multiply, we teach. If an individual doesn’t know how to drive, we teach. If an individual doesn’t know how to behave, we…………………teach? punish? Why can’t we finish the last sentence as automatically as we do the others? Tom Herner (NASDE President, Counterpoint 1998, p.2)

What is behavior? Anything a person says or does Anything a person says or does –90% of behavior is communication –Must be observable and measurable –Must meet the “dead man’s test” *If a dead man can do it, it’s NOT behavior

Behavior is method of: communication both verbally & physically of hopes, dreams, fears, anxieties, preferences, intentions and priorities Behavior is also a method to: cope with or respond to demands from others control and impulses, conform to generally accepted social conduct, and or influences of the environment Behavior is the result of complex neurological and sensory process.

He Had A Behavior Of course he had a behavior! If he didn’t he’d be DEAD! There is: walking behavior talking behavior sitting behavior standing behavior smiling behavior eating behavior Have you ever been outside when there wasn’t any weather?

Lack of Understanding To call someone lazy, uncooperative or stubborn is to admit we don’t understand them. She’s just plain stubborn. She refused to take her meds again!

Why do people display interfering behaviors? Biological/Medical Reasons: Biological/Medical Reasons: Drugs/medicine Drugs/medicine Seizure activity Seizure activity Allergies/hormonal changes Allergies/hormonal changes To mask pain or discomfort To mask pain or discomfort Self-Regulation Self-Regulation To maintain a level of arousal To maintain a level of arousal Reaction to a change in sensory input Reaction to a change in sensory input

Reinforcement: Reinforcement: Internal-it feels good Internal-it feels good External-to serve a purpose in one’s environment External-to serve a purpose in one’s environment Absence of Alternative Skill Absence of Alternative Skill Most behaviors have the goal to communicate Most behaviors have the goal to communicate Messages are sent through behavior Messages are sent through behavior Control is the key word Control is the key word

Alternative Behaviors What is the best way to decrease a behavior that is a barrier to getting a life? What is the best way to decrease a behavior that is a barrier to getting a life? Find an alternative behavior that serves the same function or purpose – gets the same results. Find an alternative behavior that serves the same function or purpose – gets the same results.

Take what you can get; closest to what you want! Reinforce even small improvement or steps to reaching the objective

In any situation there are three things involved:  1 The Environment  2 The person  3 YOU It cannot be guaranteed that you will be able to control the environment or the person served; however, you can control your own behavior.

Remember, PBS is all about Determining the function of an interfering behavior and then: Determining the function of an interfering behavior and then: –Changing environments –Teaching new skills –Addressing quality of life issues –Changing our patterns of interaction Self Determination Self Determination

Point of View “When you change the way in which you see things-the things you see will change.”

What do you see?