Behavioral Support Strategies for Learners With Developmental Disabilities and Autism Spectrum Disorders

Having served in the field of special education for over 20 years as a teacher and university educator, I have been committed to providing children and youth with developmental disabilities (DD) and autism spectrum disorders (ASD) with the skills and supports necessary to foster their growth and development across school and community domains. An important key to success as a teacher in my view has always been the development of individualized behavior supports that will result in greater degrees of personal freedom and dignity through their skill development. The greatest challenge to this ideal has been ensuring that education professionals understand the importance of this philosophy of practice and acquire the knowledge and skills to implement

evidence-based practices in the delivery of behavioral supports. Perhaps the most exciting development in recent years along these lines has been the advent of positive behavior supports (PBS) within school and learning environments among learners with DD and ASD.