A positive approach for students with autism

Positive Behavior Support (PBS), mandated by federal and California state laws, has been shown to be successful in preventing and reducing problem behaviors exhibited by students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). PBS is a proactive approach that offers intervention on a continuum of services, from school-wide strategies to individual functional behavior assessments. Effective treatments for students with ASD have been identified by the National Autism Center (2009a). Yet, special education teachers continue to identify behavior management for students with ASD as one of the most challenging areas in education. For this project, a manual was created for special education teachers that focuses on implementing a PBS approach in a special day class (SDC) for preschool to third grade students with ASD by incorporating evidence-based treatments within three management systems in a class: environmental, behavioral and instructional. Evaluation of the manual showed the SDC teachers would make changes to their classrooms in support of PBS. Implications for practice include further research on implementing evidence-based strategies to promote inclusion, and data collection to ensure social validity and fidelity of treatment