How can we better address the causes and maintenance of children's behavior problems? Positive behavior support (PBS) is a behavior management system used to understand what maintains an individual's challenging behavior. People's inappropriate behaviors are difficult to change because they are functional; they serve a purpose for them. Behavior is a form of communication. It is frequently the way children with speech and language challenges communicate their wants and needs. These behaviors are supported by reinforcement in the environment. In the case of students and children, often adults in a child’s environment will reinforce his or her undesired behaviors because the child will receive objects and/or attention because of his behavior. Functional behavior assessments (FBAs) clearly describe behaviors, identify the contexts (events, times, and situation) that predict when behavior will and will not occur, and identify consequences that maintain the behavior.
Title: ‘Helping Children with Disabilities Learn How to Succeed in SOCIAL Situations’.
A brief description of this talk: Social relationships influence what we do, how we communicate, with whom we interact, where we interact, the roles we take in society, and define who we are as individuals.Interpersonal relationships provide us with companionship, emotional support, material aid, access to information, help with decision making, and opportunities to meet new people. These are skills people can learn, but often do not. Students with disabilities need help learning these skills.
Dr. Susan Scharoun has a Ph.D. in Psychology from Syracuse University. After graduating from S.U., she received a National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) post-doctoral fellowship to do brain research in the Department of Anatomy and Center for Brain Research at the University of Rochester Medical School. Dr. Scharoun was employed by NYS Office of People with a Developmental Disability as an Associate Psychologist and Treatment Team Leader for seventeen years before becoming a Professor in the Department of Psychology at Le Moyne College, where she was the chair of the department for over a decade. Her research interests include autism and addressing challenging behaviors with positive behavioral support. Dr. Scharoun has taught courses such as Brain and Behavior, Childhood Disorders, Human Lifespan Development, Motivation and Emotion, Personality Theory, The Psychology of Disabilities and Health Psychology. She is a consultant psychologist for several not-for-profit agencies that serve children and adults with developmental disabilities. Dr. Scharoun is on the Board of Directors of ARC of Onondaga and is the co-author of the e-publication of Dual Diagnosis, A Caregiver’s Guide. Dr. Scharoun is a sibling of a person with a developmental disability and a strong advocate for families.
The Conference will be held at Cayuga Onondaga BOCES
9:30-12:00 and 1:00–3:30
Sponsored by: Cayuga Counseling, The Dual Diagnosed Task Force of
Cayuga County and OPWDD Family Support Services