Organizations working with individuals with special needs usually focus on implementing the least intrusive interventions within the least restrictive environments possible. However, at times, those terms seem to be buzz words instead of an applicable understanding of the interventions used. This can be especially difficult when we work with individuals who may present us with disruptive or dangerous behavior.

Least Intrusive Interventions

Quality Behavioral Solutions, Inc. (QBS) has developed a variety of solutions within their Safety-Care Program. Safety-care is designed to provide staff with that least restrictive approach and teach those applicable skills that can be used to de-escalate behavioral situations across many environments.

The Prompt Strategy: Breaking Down Tasks Into Doable Parts

The prompt strategy is one of three strategies that are taught as a response to initially escalated or disruptive behaviors. When describing the prompt strategy, it may be helpful to provide both a naturalistic and therapeutic application. In the event of asking your child to get ready for school in the morning, one that typically triggers difficult behavior, you may not present the task as a whole. Instead, you may break it down into more distinct instruction or smaller tasks. (i.e. Let's put your clothes on, eat breakfast, brush your teeth, put your shoes on, etc.).

The Prompt Strategy: Handling Transition Time

In a similar therapeutic application, you may work with an individual who has difficulty with transitions or engages in some disruptive behavior when asked to end a preferred activity. It may be appropriate to prompt highly probable instructions to gain some momentum towards the final task. With this strategy, you would prompt behaviors in which the child is highly probable to comply with (i.e. simple instructions, "wh" questions, imitative skills, etc.).

The Safety Care 6.0 core curriculum is the most frequently taught course within QBS; however, there are also several other advanced modules that may expand on skills more specific to different populations (i.e. School Aged Children, Geri-Care, and Safety-Care for Families).

Check out our website today where you can view complimentary YouTube videos of "Behavioral Briefs", that cover a wide variety of behavioral topics brought to you by our Master Trainers. Sign up for future webinars or register for a Safety-Care training class in your area. To receive more information about QBS, Inc. and Safety-Care, check out one of our social media sites and stay up-to-date on our latest news with our QBS Blog.