Including Students with Severe Disabilities in School-Wide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports: Perceptions of State Coordinators

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine how the needs of students with disabilities are addressed by state coordinators of school-wide positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS) during professional development activities on positive behavioral strategies, school-wide systems, and school-wide commitment to the PBIS approach. Particular attention was given to how the needs of students with severe disabilities were addressed throughout training opportunities. Although an overwhelming majority (93%) of the state coordinators believed that students with severe disabilities can participate at least partially in schoolwide PBIS programs, they indicated that this belief was not reflected in their state's PBIS initial professional development activities.