Behaviour Behaviour Support Support Services Services
Dealing with Change Resource Package NOTE: This package consists of strategies which may or may not assist in responding to behaviour. It is provided for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or treatment from a qualified behaviour clinician.
Change is Okay! Caution! This is often something program related and implemented with the help of a behaviour consultant. If there is too much push back without a consultant being open and active to the case, stop and wait for services to be opened.
Sometimes plans need to change and that is okay! It’s important that the individual knows about the change and that it is okay for plans to change.
How to Set Up Situations You want to set up situations where the individual can experience the changes in small steps with either a non-preferred item or a neutral item. It is important to only try this if you think they will be accepting of the positive change and will not cause them any distress.
Examples of Change Non-Preferred Item Example: Going with the individual to the store that does not interest them (e.g., Zehrs), but before you leave the house you may tell them that now you need to go to a different store (e.g., Walmart). Preferred Item Example: The individual loves to go on car rides every day. Today, the caregivers’ car is in the shop and they need to get it repaired. The individual cannot go for a car ride that day. They talked to the individual when they woke up and told them about how the car needed to be fixed and the individual was able to prepare their day around that. Provide options of other preferred activities that individual can do.
How to Teach Tolerating Change • Discuss the possibility of change! You want to talk about the possibility of change and explain the change as early as possible. Example; If it rains we can’t go for a walk. What could we do instead? • Discuss and model dealing with change appropriately. Example; “I really wanted to go to the store but when I got there they were closed. That’s okay – I can go back and try tomorrow”. • Role play different situations that may cause difficulty and practice the desired behaviours. • Create different situations for change throughout the day for the individuals to practice. These are different things you can change: snacks or meals (items, times, locations), outings (destinations, dates/time, whose going), household items (toothpaste brand), and sequence of routines (*only after they can somewhat tolerate change). • Reinforce the behaviour when they deal with change appropriately (no matter how small the change).
Start with small changes and slowly build up to bigger and bigger changes. Follow the individual’s lead and their progress.
Moving to the Next Step You can move onto the next step once the individual begins to accept ‘change’ this may be seen as no target behaviour. As you move on to the next step, also practice the previous step(s). This allows the individual to learn that change can sometimes lead to more preferred items, neutral items, an undesirable item or no item/activity over time.
Reinforcement At times the change itself will lead to rewards. In addition, you can give the individual any preferred item paired with descriptive praise for responding appropriately to the change.
Let’s Break it Down 1. Small changes to nonpreferred items/activities
2. Small changes to neutral items/activities No Behaviour
Leads to a preferred item/ activity
Leads to preferred item/activity
3. Small changes to preferable items/activities
4. Small changes to preferable items/activities No Behaviour
Leads to other preferred items/ activities
Leads to a preferred item/ activity
5. Small changes to preferable items/activities
6. Small changes to preferable items/activities No Behaviour
Leads to neutral items/activities
Leads to non-preferred items/ activities
Switch it up! At times offer choice in the items/activities you are changing while you are moving into bigger changes. Caution! If there is any push back - stop at that step and wait for a behaviour consultant to consult with you