Positive behaviour support Getting it right from the start

72 Positive behaviour support: Getting it right from the start - Facilitators reference manual
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Changing the environment
Positive Intervention Framework
Proactive strategies
What to do to prevent the behaviour
Immediate response
strategies
What might help when
the behaviour occurs;
beginning with least
restrictive strategies?
Change the
environment
• Offer choices
• Positive interactions
with person
• Predictability
Teaching skills
Introduce short-term
change strategies
for rapid change to
behaviour
There are many factors within a person’s environment that may directly impact on their
behaviour. These include:
Settings and materials:
Being exposed to a setting which doesn’t promote and encourage meaningful and enjoyable
activity; not having enough space; not experiencing a rich variety of settings; living in places
that are not personalised, pleasant and comfortable; not having equipment available which
the person can use to pursue their interests; or just being overcrowded or exposed to too
much noise.
Human environment:
Having few positive interactions with others; people holding low expectations about the person;
people not treating the person with respect; people equating the person with their problem
behaviour; people not feeling a strong sense of commitment to the person; people failing to
recognise the person strengths; being exposed to lots of others with difficult behaviours and
being exposed to high levels of conflict and tension.
Something to say:
Communication skills are developed when the environment is stimulating, interesting and
where the developing communication skills are supported and encouraged. Often for people
with disabilities decisions are made for the person that results in the person losing control
over their life.
The desire to communicate:
The environment plays a pivotal role in developing a person’s desire to communicate. Often a
person’s needs are anticipated without any action on their part. Activities need to be created
which provide opportunities to request items.