Professional Development
Functional Behavioral Assessment (FBA)
The term functional behavioral assessment (FBA) has become a "buzz" word in the educational field. Typically, a functional behavioral assessment is recommended as a response to a crisis or a discipline issue. Most often, schools need to contract an outside provider to conduct the assessment. In addition to being time intensive, FBA's can be costly as well. Conducting functional behavioral assessments on students with developmental disabilities, autism and related disorders present unique challenges. Due to the pervasive nature and complexity of children with these disabilities, it can be difficult to conduct an assessment that can pinpoint the issues that are affecting and maintaining the child's behavior. In addition, these children can often display similar behaviors that serve different functions depending on the situation. When done correctly and proactively, functional behavioral assessments can provide valuable information and insight on the many factors that may be contributing to a student's behavior. Ongoing data collection can drive a student's program and ensure that behaviors are not interfering with a student's academic potential.
This workshop is designed to train school personnel and staff to gather information and conduct functional behavioral assessments using the "best practices" in behavioral assessment. In addition to the information presented in the workshop, participants will be expected to conduct a functional behavioral assessment on a student they currently work with. Additional professional development points will be awarded for work outside of the time spent in the workshop.