Principles and Practices of Positive Behavior Supports CHAPTER 3: Ensuring Ethical Practices in the Delivery of Positive Behavior Supports Behavior Management: Principles and Practices of Positive Behavior Supports Third Edition John J. Wheeler David D. Richey

Objectives Define ethics and ethical conduct. List and describe the nine organizing themes for understanding ethical practices. Understand accepted standards of ethical conduct. Understand the unique position of positive behavior supports within an ethical framework. Evaluate the extent to which behavior interventions are consistent with ethical standards of conduct. Compare and contrast different professional organizations’ standards for ethical conduct.

Consider the following: What are ethics and what is ethical behavior? How do educators know what the ethical standards are?

Nine Organizing Themes for Understanding Ethical Practices Each student as an individual human being has worth and dignity, despite the nature or severity of his troubling behavior. The behavior of children and youth (challenging and otherwise) always reflects a need. People respond out of need, and all behavior serves a function. Systematic and thoughtful management of learning environments and understanding of individual differences and uniqueness will serve to prevent some challenging behaviors. And early intervention will serve to prevent or lessen the severity of many challenging behaviors.

Nine Organizing Themes for Understanding Ethical Practices Continued… Families, children, and youth should be central to all aspects of PBS, including active participation in planning, implementing, and evaluating interventions. The uniqueness of children and youth, as reflected by their family’s diversity (race, ethnicity, religion, and culture) should be taken into account in understanding behavior and responding to challenging behavior. Natural environments and inclusive settings are desirable for children and youth with troubling and challenging behavior, but school personnel must assume ownership in those settings, and a full continuum of services and settings should be available.

Nine Organizing Themes for Understanding Ethical Practices Continued… Natural and logically occurring consequences are preferable to extraneous and contrived reward systems, in order to foster self-discipline, independence, and self-determination. Behavior interventions should be positive and should not include corporal punishment or other punitive measures. Actions taken by professionals to either suppress undesirable behavior or to foster desired behavior of children and youth should be associated with meaningful and functional attitudes and skills and should be positively related to quality of life.

Codes, Standards, and Principles of Professional Groups National Education Association (NEA) Learning First Alliance The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) Council for Children with Behavior Disorders (CCBD)

Prevention and Early Intervention National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) The Division for Early Childhood (DEC) of the Council for Exceptional Children

Summary of Ethical Codes, Standards, and Principles from Associations/Organizations It is important to understand the broader context of ethics in education and the place of prevention and intervention for challenging behaviors in that context. In the future as special education and general education systems continue to unify with regard to reform, the revisions and further development of ethical codes will be more inclusive of varied constituencies.

Positive Behavior Support and Ethical Standards Historical views of applied behavior analysis and ethical practices

PBS, Ethical Standards, and Practice: Nine Organizing Themes Individual Worth and Dignity Behavior Reflects a Need Prevention and Early Intervention Family Partnerships Family Diversity Natural Environments and Inclusive Settings Natural and Logically Occurring Consequences Being Positive Rather Than Punitive Functionality and Quality of Life

PBS Standards of Practice from the Association for Positive Behavior Support Standard I – Foundations of PBS Standard II – Collaboration and Team Building Standard III – Basic Principles of Behavior Standard IV – Data-Based Decision-Making Standard V – Comprehensive Person Centered and Functional Behavior Assessments Standard VI – Development and Implementation of Comprehensive, Multi-element Behavior Support Plans

Summary Ethics are defined as the principles of conduct governing us as individual professionals as well as in our particular discipline. To be ethical as a professional means to conform to accepted professional standards of conduct.