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| Providing Service to Adults with Autism |
| Monday, May 28, 2007 |
| 1:30 PM–2:50 PM |
| Elizabeth F |
| Area: AUT |
| Chair: Corrine R. Donley (University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh; Retired) |
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| Transition from Institution to Community: Increasing an Adult's Appropriate Behaviors and Decreasing His Aggression. |
| Domain: Applied Research |
| CORRINE R. DONLEY (University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh; Retired) |
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| Abstract: Successfully transitioning an adult with pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified and obsessive/compulsive behavior from an institution to the community is a difficult task, especially when the client has been physically controlled from exhibiting dangerous behaviors for years. Baseline data demonstrate the client’s physical aggression had been cause for 6-point restraint in the institution. Such control measures are inappropriate for community life and negatively affect a client’s opportunity for lifestyle choices.
In this study, a man of 43, who according to the staff never smiled or laughed in the institution, quickly learned to laugh, smile, sign yes, follow a clear command and control his aggression. These improvements are based upon unambiguous data. To encourage appropriate behaviors and decrease aggression, the staff provided positive antecedents such as hiding small objects, attaching furniture to the floor, securing the home and yard, and verbal behavior training. They systematically used consequences such as dispensing high rates of reinforcement for appropriate behaviors (especially sign), ignoring insignificant inappropriate behaviors, positively correcting inappropriate but essential behaviors, and punishing him (time out) for aggression, self-abuse and property damage. The results of the implementation of the behavior analytic treatment upon his appropriate behaviors and aggression are displayed. |
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| Transition from Institution to Community: Decreasing an Adult's Self-Injurious Behavior. |
| Domain: Applied Research |
| CORRINE R. DONLEY (University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh; Retired) |
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| Abstract: Successfully transitioning an adult with pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified and obsessive/compulsive behavior from an institution to the community is a difficult task, especially when the client has been physically controlled from exhibiting dangerous behaviors for years. Baseline data show that the client’s self-injurious behavior (SIB) had been one cause for 6-point restraint in the institution. Such control measures are inappropriate for community life and negatively affect a client’s opportunity for lifestyle choices.
Data demonstrate that a man of 43 learned to control SIB after transitioning from an institution to the community. His SIB included head banging, hitting self with hand, pounding his fists on objects, biting himself, rubbing or scratching his skin until broken, and opening a healing wound.
To preclude his SIB, the treatment provided for positive antecedents such as attaching furniture to the floor, securing the home and yard, and verbal behavior training. The staff systematically used consequences such as dispensing high rates of reinforcement for appropriate behaviors, ignoring insignificant inappropriate behaviors, positively correcting inappropriate but essential behaviors, and punishing him (time out) for aggression, self-abuse and property damage. The study demonstrates the results of the implementation of the behavior analytic treatment on the duration of SIB. |
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| From Pica to Polydipsia: Treatment of Related Ritualistic Behaviors in an Adult with Autism. |
| Domain: Applied Research |
| KIMBERLY ANN KROEGER (Kelly O'Leary Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders), Thaddeus Nestheide (Kennedy Krieger Institute) |
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| Abstract: This paper presents a treatment case of a 32-year-old man diagnosed with autism and presenting with polydipsia. The polydipsia appears to be related to a larger subset of obsessive compulsive behavior demonstrated by the individual. The polydipsia appeared to be cyclical, across the individual’s lifespan, as well as cyclical in its current presentation at the time of treatment. A functional analysis yielded results that indicated the behavior appeared to be multifunctional, although an alternative explanation could be provision of further evidence that the behavior was obsessive-compulsive in nature. Successful treatment involved the use of differential reinforcement for alternative and incompatible behaviors across settings, as well as probe data to demonstrate the behavior was indeed extinguished. Follow-up data also provided. |
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