Using a Music Therapy Collaborative Consultative Approach - World ...

choices in certain areas, which might contribute to reducing challenging behaviors (Koegel et
al., 1992). Increasing the child’s interest and engagement by providing highly preferred play
materials or topic areas and choices regarding preferred activities is described as “Increase
fun decreases problem behaviors” by McGee and colleagues (2001, p. 176). Structured
teaching and highly structured environments also prevent problem behaviors, because
structure increases the child’s understanding of the classroom routines and activities (Marcus
et al., 2001). If the challenging behavior continues, a functional assessment of the behavior
is made and teaching alternative appropriate behaviors is provided. The functional behavior
assessment involves:
• keeping a detailed record of the behavior, including situations, time of the day, events
that proceed the behavior, and how others respond;
• developing hypotheses regarding the functioning of the behaviors; and
• changing the environment to support appropriate behaviors, teaching appropriate
behaviors, teaching to request help through words, objects, gestures or sign language
(Donnellan et al., 1984).
The wide range of learning styles and individual differences within children with
ASD requires that educational strategies and approaches be tailored to each child’s individual
strengths and needs. A combination of approaches is essential to successfully include
children with autism in preschool education programs. The approaches notwithstanding,
according to Dawson and Osterling (1997) effective early intervention models include the
following common features:
• specific curriculum content;
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