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1.5 BACB General CEUs $15 1 hr 41 min On-Demand

General CEU: Physical prompting, what is it, and when does it become something more?

Provider: BehaviorLive — via BehaviorLive

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Course Description

Physical prompting is not typically well defined in applied settings and can occur with a range of force that can vary greatly, but when the individual begins to resist everything can change rapidly. What was a mild physical prompt is now a "vigorous" physical prompt that is beginning to look and function like restraint. Individuals may resist physical guidance whether it's to discourage them from hitting or encourage them to remain seated. This presentation will focus on differences between physical prompts and restraint as well as factors that cause parents/guardians and the public to deem restraints acceptable or unacceptable. Other topics will include 1) an examination of the concepts of accommodation and discrimination as they apply to individuals with special needs, 2) a clear, functional definition of restraint for parents, 3) the 3 types of control that are used with all people and why even mild restraint must sometimes be used as a form of control, and 4) How to justify the use of procedures that are definitely "against the will" of the child and may even result in a momentary restriction of the individual's rights. Learning Objectives: Participants will be able to explain the differences between restraint and physical prompting, and how physical prompting can easily turn into restraint.Participants will be able to list the 3 types of control and how to explain to parents how these forms of control are used with children as they develop.Participants will be able to explain what is meant by "discrepant treatment" of those with special needs and how our biases determine how we label any discrepant treatment we see.Participants will be able to explain how the context of restraint is typically more important than the restraint itself in determining acceptability.Participants will be able to explain the perception of malice and incompetence when it comes to restraint use and how this perception can prevent parental cooperation.

What You'll Learn

  1. Compare the critical distinctions between physical prompts and physical restraints in applied behavior analytic settings.
  2. Apply the factors that influence when a physical prompt may escalate into a restraint during intervention.
  3. Identify guidelines for determining socially acceptable levels of physical guidance while maintaining learner dignity and safety.

CEU Credits Earned

Certification BodyCreditsType
BACB® 1.5 General

About the Instructor

MW
Merrill Winston
Ph.D., BCBA-D

Dr. Merrill Winston is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst who has worked in the field of Developmental Disabilities for over 35 years. He has worked in small group homes, large residential facilities, secured facilities, family homes, and schools and has worked with a broad population who exhibited behavior problems that ranged from mild to life-threatening. Dr. Winston is comfortable working with both verbal and non-verbal individuals and both children and adults with a range of diagnoses. His strengths are relating to direct-care staff in a manner that sets them at ease as well as working in real-time with children and adults. Dr. Winston excels in public speaking and has given numerous presentations at various professional conferences throughout the country. His areas of interest are crisis prevention and intervention, psychotropic medication usage with special populations, and the development and implementation of training programs designed to increase the skill levels of parents, professionals, teachers, and direct-care staff.

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Clinical Disclaimer

All behavior-analytic intervention is individualized. The information on this page is for educational purposes and does not constitute clinical advice. Treatment decisions should be informed by the best available published research, individualized assessment, and obtained with the informed consent of the client or their legal guardian. Behavior analysts are responsible for practicing within the boundaries of their competence and adhering to the BACB Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts.

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