The intersection of applied behavior analysis and health outcomes for individuals with disabilities represents one of the most consequential yet underaddressed areas in our field. Research consistently demonstrates that individuals with significant disabilities experience reduced life expectancy, often by as many as 20 years compared to the general population.
Provider: BehaviorLive — via Oregon Association for Behavior Analysis
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Join Free →Without adequate support and training, children and adults with significant disabilities often chronically avoid health routines and appointments, which research indicates can decrease their life expectancy by 20 years. Skills as basic as oral hygiene provide risk markers for ischaemic heart disease (IHD), heart failure (HF), ischaemic stroke and peripheral vascular disease (PVD) and all-cause mortality. To teach the skills to prevent these outcomes, Victory Academy has begun a school-wide application of various curricula, in order to increase toleration of critical routines, appointments, and exams. Preliminary findings show that 39% of student participants who began treatment with severe problem behaviors, increased their tolerance and no longer demonstrate behaviors that typically result in an avoidance of health and wellness related routines and visits. In addition to tolerance within our setting, numerous students have generalized their skills to access dental cleanings, blood draws, IVs, and other previously aversive or challenging routines and exams. This presentation will discuss the initial skills probes, parent surveys, treatment and outcomes of this work, as well as the skill profiles of learners, and specific treatment protocols based on profiles. Additional recommendations will be showcased for practitioners who seek to include these skills as part of their programming toward contextually appropriate behavior.
| Certification Body | Credits | Type |
|---|---|---|
| BACB® | 1 | Ethics |
Kristina Montgomery received a B.A. in Cultural Anthropology and Women’s studies from University of Oregon and an M.A. in Applied Behavior Analysis from Columbia University Teachers College. She is a licensed regular education teacher, licensed special education teacher, and a board certified behavior analyst. She has evolved with the field of Applied Behavior Analysis since 2002 working in home settings, public schools, and private school with children and young adults as a teacher, consultant, program director, and supervisor. She is very passionate about parent training and involving families in meaningful ways, as well as training professionals to apply Essential for Living in group settings and designing event-based learning opportunities. Kristina is available to provide in person trainings, virtual trainings, consultations, mentorship, and has recorded trainings available as well.
Dig into the research behind this topic — plain-English summaries written for BCBAs.
279 research articles with practitioner takeaways
258 research articles with practitioner takeaways
252 research articles with practitioner takeaways
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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.