NEW!! Dealing with Inadequate physical activity and nutrition: Working with children with special needs and their families -8/16/18

An abundance of health literature indicates that children and adults need to target diet and exercise behaviors.  However, practicing behavior analysts often shy away from addressing health related issues, despite knowledge of behavioral technologies and access to a growing body of research that could lead to socially significant and meaningful outcomes. Many analysts cite ethical considerations and caregiver endrosement as a barrier when addressing behaviors related to increased physical activity and varied food consumption.

As practitioners, we need to confront the use of potentially harmful backup reinforcers which may include long bouts of sedentary activity and excessive use of edibles. This presentation addresses how behavior analysts can alter health-related goals by drawing from current recommendations, selecting and pairing relevant health behaviors, translating current research and gaining support from parents and stakeholders. Common assessment tools (e.g., VB-MAPP, EFL) will be used to illustrate how behavior analysts can write goals within their own boundaries of competence.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify common sources for health related recommendations, and potential related professionals for collaboration on health related targets.
2.  List potential questions for assessing health related needs with caregivers.
3. Identify potential goal area based off desired outcome identified by parent or other professional.
4. Identify potential goal area based off a known behavioral assessment tools.
5. Describe rationale and social significance for submitting goals to funding sources.
6. Implement existing behavioral technology related to a health target
7. List ethical guidelines to consider related to scope of practice and goal development.

Gina Nicolini is Board Certified Behavior Analyst and has developed a passion for the treatment of health-related behavior in children, including programming appropriate levels of physical activity. Since 2000, she has worked in disability services and has instructed in a wide range of settings. Gina experienced in residential facilities, group homes, schools, clinics, and nursing homes that well-developed programs often fail to teach and develop skills that meet this basic human need. Gina’s clinical expertise lies with assessing and developing goals through the use of VB-MAPP, Essential for Living, and AFFLS. She program’s Skinner’s analysis of verbal behavior into via natural environment training and verbal modules. Gina is a Professional Crisis Management Instructor, further spurring her interest in client and staff fitness. She believes that the overall health and fitness off direct care staff is important for the safety and well-being of clients.