What is Social Thinking
Rethinking Behavioral Interventions: Use of Effective Anxiety Management Strategies in School
Jessica Minahan
Sunday, June 24, 2012 10:15 AM
Description
Empirical research has reliably demonstrated that anxiety has a significant effect on performance. For students with ASD/AS there is a statistically high prevalence and comorbidity of diagnosed anxiety. However, traditional behavior plans often don’t meet the needs of student’s with anxiety and may even exacerbate inappropriate behavior. Understanding the role anxiety plays in a student’s behavior is crucial, as well as analyzing how the environment may unintentionally reinforce the student’s negative behavior. An effective behavior plan needs to avoid reward and punishment based consequences and focus on teaching the student to cope and to use alternative responses. Incorporating preventative strategies and self-monitoring systems as part of an overall anxiety management approach to behavior intervention can be practically implemented in school–based settings. Participants will leave with strategies they can apply the next day.
Objectives
- Attendees will learn how anxiety effects a student’s learning and behavior.
- Attendees will learn why traditional behavior plans often don’t meet the needs of student’s with anxiety and may even exacerbate inappropriate behavior.
- Attendees will learn how to create and implement an effective behavior plan for students with anxiety
