Functional Behaviour Assessment: Addressing severe, complex and enduring needs

Abstract

This paper describes the fundamental features of Functional Behaviour Assessment (FBA). Single case studies are used to provide examples of particular elements of this approach.Children with severe, complex and enduring needs present significant challenges to the ability of professionals to understand and respond to their unique difficulties. It is suggested that FBA provides a powerful tool for understanding challenging behaviour and designing efficient and effective interventions to address these behaviours. Further, since FBA is not a standardised, norm-referenced, rigid assessment tool we suggest it is uniquely suitable to address the myriad needs of pupils with severe, complex, and enduring needs. Effective individualised intervention plans and consideration of means of reviewing the environmental contingencies which support and maintain behaviours are discussed. Ways to identify the function of a particular challenging behaviour and create an intervention plan that honours the function of a behaviour while replacing it with a more appropriate alternate behaviour are also described.