Functional Behavior and Positive Supports (FBAPS)
An Online Web Course
 elcome.
The New Mexico State Department of Education has
contracted with The Center for Development and Disability to develop and
implement a course on functional behavioral analysis (assessment) and
positive behavior supports for children within the public schools. With
the 1997 Reauthorization of IDEA has come a mandate for more
functionally-based assessments of children who are displaying difficult
behaviors within the schools. These assessments must consider
carefully what purpose (function) a particular behavior serves for the
individual.
Functional assessments work from the philosophical
belief that a person's behavior is reasonable from his own point of
view. Part of the assessment process is attempting to understand
that person's point of view and the logic behind his thinking.
This requires that the team working with the child seek information
through interview(s) with the child, family and school personnel working
with and on behalf of the child. In addition, observations in a
variety of contexts must be conducted so that the purposes of a target
behavior can be determined. These data-gathering processes then
lead to hypotheses about how to intervene with the behavior. The
hypotheses can then be tested so that the most appropriate interventions
can be discovered. Using a functional behavior assessment approach
will lead to a proactive and comprehensive behavior plan for a student.
The course features the use of sample cases, data
collection methods and materials, and step by step worksheets for
implementing the functionally-oriented assessment process. This
course is offered on-line through a computer conferencing web course.
The computer course will be presented and moderated by Pat Osbourn, M.A. CCC, CED,
Wendy Kalberg, M.A., CED, Mary Ann Trott, M.A., and Karen Wright, M.A.
If you have questions please contact Rose Hessmiller
@ roseh@unm.edu
For more information please contact:
The Center for Development and Disability
Main Number : (505) 272-3000
| 
