What people call “behavior supports” covers a wide variety of services, and not all of these services are truly helpful to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. How can we move away from services that try to change people’s behavior without understanding what people are thinking and feeling? What would it take to create behavior support services that help us live self-determined lives in the community?
ASAN studied this topic by doing an extensive literature review, a review of state services, and interviews with experts, including people who use behavior support services. In this resource, we take a deeper look at the history of behavior supports, what’s available today, and what needs to change.
Our report on behavior support services is available as a white paper, with an accompanying executive summary.
We also have an accessible toolkit. The toolkit talks about things like:
- What are “behavior supports”?
- What problems are there with how behavior support services happen now?
- What changes could make behavior support services better?
- What are good goals for behavior support services?
- How can people with I/DD prepare for times when we might not be able to control our behavior?
And more!
The toolkit is available in two versions:
- Our Easy Read edition. The Easy Read version uses pictures along with large text, and has more white space.
- A Plain Language version without accompanying graphics.
The Easy Read Edition is split into parts. Each part has its own Words to Know section.
Select the title of any of the parts below to download it:
0. Introduction
1. Background
2. Methods
3. Defining Behavior Support Services
4. Existing Problems with Current Behavior Support Services
5. Recommendations by Topic
6. Conclusions
The plain language version is split into parts. Each part has its own Words to Know section.
Select the title of any of the parts below to download it, or click here to download the entire Plain Language version.
0. Introduction
1. Background
2. Methods
3. Defining Behavior Support Services
4. Existing Problems with Current Behavior Support Services
5. Recommendations by Topic
6. Conclusions
7. Appendix A: Acceptable Goals for Behavior Supports
8. Appendix B: Selected Crisis Planning Resources
9. Word to Know
