Topic: Challenging Behaviors

Are you looking for strategies to encourage strengths and quality of life?

Using a bouncing ball, this lesson plan begins by introducing the learners to the concept of resiliency, the ability to bounce back from life’s challenges.  It examines how we are more socially agile and happier when we develop and utilize our character strengths (e.g. bravery, enthusiasm, playfulness). 

Using a simple tool, the The Art of Bouncing Back helps each individual examine his/her strengths and find ways to incorporate them more often into each day.

David Hingsburger speaks about how to support people with challenging behaviors, and how to build skills using reinforcement.

Been There, Done That, Didn’t Work was written from the manual and video series, Everything you Need to Know about Behavior Management, published in 2003 by The YAI/National Institute for People with Disabilities Network. This presentation reflects the notes of the authors and highlights point for discussion. The PowerPoint Presentation is a snapshot of the philosophy and best practices of YAI/NIPD as well as functional assessment and the science of Applied Behavior Analysis.

This presentation has been used in many forums and is slightly modified for each audience and their specific needs. Pieces of this training have been used in New York League for Early Learning, a member of the YAI/NIPD Network’s New Staff Orientation Trainings, one-day behavior management workshops as well as four full-day sessions for internal staff, outside school districts and other agencies and hospitals that provide services to children with special needs as well as typically developing children.

A chime that brings a smile to one person can be an overwhelming noise to a person with hypersensitivity to the environment.  In the typical person, the senses gather information from the world which the brain seamlessly integrates.  When this neurological integration goes awry, ordinary sights, sounds, touches, smells and movements can be perceived as painful and disorienting, a condition known as Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD).  SPD disrupts everyday functions and makes navigating through the world a frightening enterprise. 

The good news is that children and adults with SPD can be helped through Sensory Integration therapy. This YAI Newsletter will give you effective strategies for use in the therapy room that can also be applied to the program team.

In this resource Betsy addresses the challenge of teaching society that all individuals with a profound intellectual disability have the ability to communicate and do so just as often as anyone of us.

She describes tips to help staff meet this challenge in their clinical work of translating the behaviors exhibited by individuals who are non verbal into a language that society can understand.

Are you or your staff struggling with a maladaptive behavior?  This easy-to-follow flow chart structures your search for supports. 

Use this tool to determine when and how to determine solutions.

This comprehensive training packet explores the nature of personality and the disorders that may occur. 

Designed to train Direct Service Professionals, the training covers in depth narcissistic, histrionic, antisocial, and borderline disorders. It reviews symptoms, treatment options and teamwork strategies for support in the program

In this lesson, participants learn that people who are optimistic are happier and better able to bounce back from difficulties.

Using exercises and games, participants explore the relationship of thoughts, feelings and behaviors and get practice using positive thinking in response to challenging situations.

Jeff is a father of a young son with special needs.  He shares with us the challenges he faces as he prepares his son Alex for camp and family vacations, and offers some hints on how to make the process more manageable. 

This resource is not only wonderful for someone who is preparing to vacation or head out to camp, but it is also a great tool for providers to use with parents and care takers when discussing preparation for trips.

This training provides a user friendly view of ADHD as a break down in the brain’s four “executive” functions.  Humorous examples demonstrate how the executive functions operate in the general population and in atypical individuals.

A worksheet for small group activity teaches attendees how to apply the lessons in this workshop to supporting the brains of the children they work with.

This comprehensive training outlines relevant information in an easy to understand format. It reviews the symptoms of numerous psychotic disorders, explains how this information is applicable to the population we serve, and discusses effective treatment.

Are you relaxed yet? We all know that stress can wreck havoc on the body and on behavior. 

You can lead your group to better emotional and mental health!  This lesson plan takes you step-by-step through the process of leading a relaxation group seated in chairs.  Deep breathing is used to tense and relax muscles from head to toe and have fun in the process!

Ready, set, breathe…relax…ahhh!

Learn the ABC’s of applied behavior analysis in this clear and comprehensive training.  Geared for direct service professionals, the training covers all the bases, from investigating the causes of behavior (functional assessment) to the many methods of building positive behaviors.

The training includes activities and assignments that support staff learning.  Finally, a training on behavior that is simple to teach and to understand!

In this lesson, participants learn that people who have good problem solving skills are happier and more resilient (better able to bounce back). 

Using the activities “The Great Egg Drop,” and “Dear Abby,” participants learn the steps involved in problem solving and gain experience in solving common problems.  A follow up activity using a “problem box” provides additional practice for recognizing and solving problems.