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As part of the new ABA initiative funded by the Ministry of
Children and Youth Services for children 0-18, three siblings
diagnosed on the autism spectrum (Two with Autism, and the
third brother has a diagnosis of Asperger’s Syndrome) were
provided service simultaneously.
All 3 Participants required support for aberrant behaviour
(elopement, physical aggression, and hand-flapping).
DRA procedures and a group contingency were used for all
three siblings to reduce the undesired behaviour and increase
the use of alternate behaviours using a mediator model. The
mother of the children collected all necessary program data
and implemented specific task analyzed program plans.
Implementation of both the DRA and group contingency
demonstrated an increase in the use of alternate behaviour
when compared to both baseline and previous treatment
program phases in two out three of the cases.
Participant 1:
Mean of less than one incidence of elopement per day at the
end of measured DRA and Group Contingency Phase.
Participant 2:
Participant was able to avoid engaging in motor stereotypy for
up to 60 minutes while in a public setting.
Participant 3:
Mean of 2 incidences of aggression per day at the end of
measured DRA and Group Contingency Phase.
After implementation of the group contingency, new
untrained desired behaviour also occurred, i.e. the Parent of all
three participants noted that during the group contingency
phase, the siblings would prompt one another to engage in
desired behaviour and provide verbal praise to one another for
meeting targets.
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Participant 1
A DRA Procedure (Vollmer, 1999) was used to train this participant to
replace his elopement behaviour with a functional skill (holding his
Mother’s Hand) during transitions.
A token economy system was utilized to provide him with immediate
reinforcement when he engaged in desired behaviour. Verbal prompts were
used to facilitate the Participant’s hand-holding behaviour.
Desired behaviour was prompted verbally by Participant’s Parent before all
transitions.
Participant 2
A DRA Procedure was used to train this participant to replace his motor
stereotypy with functional behaviour, i.e. Playing catch, clapping hands,
high fives, playing on monkey bars, squeezing hands, holding shopping
bags, holding a railing, pushing a shopping cart with both hands.
Desired behaviour was prompted verbally by Participant’s Parent before
leaving the family home.
Absence of motor stereotypy was reinforced with verbal praise after pre-
determined increments of time.
Participant 3
A DRA Procedure was used to train this participant to engage in
appropriate behaviour to reduce physical aggression in the form of hitting
other people when denied access to preferred items and activities.
A token economy system was used to provide the Participant with
immediate reinforcement when he engaged in desired behaviour in the
presence of noted antecedents to aggression.
Desired behaviour was prompted verbally by participant’s parent when an
antecedent to aggression (i.e. ending of a preferred activity) was present.
Group Contingency
A Group Contingency Program (Lloyd, 1996) was implemented after DRA
Procedures has already been implemented with Participant 1 and 2.
The Group Contingency Program involved additional reinforcement being
provided to all three siblings for meeting specified behaviour targets for
desired behaviour at frequencies determined by the parent.
All three siblings were all required to meet the agreed upon targets before
additional reinforcement was supplied.
Follow-Up
Data was collected by the Parent Mediator after discharge from ABA
Services.
Generalization of program principles and continued use of DRA and Group
Contingency Programs by the Mediator was reviewed during the follow-up
period.
Participant 1:
Goal: Decrease instances of elopement behaviour when
transitioning to non-preferred activities by 50% (4 times/week):
Baseline of 8 times/week. RC will engage in the suitable
replacement behaviour (hold Mom`s hand) 4 times in a 7 day
period.
Hypothesized Function of Elopement: Escape
Participant 2:
Goal: Participant will engage in socially appropriate behaviour in
the absence of motor stereotypy (hand flapping) for 10
consecutive minutes in public places. Alternate Behaviours:
Playing catch, clapping hands, high fives, playing on monkey
bars, squeezing hands, holding shopping bags, holding a railing,
pushing a shopping cart with both hands.
Hypothesized Function of Motor Stereotypy: Sensory
Participant 3:
Goal: Participant will use an alternative behaviour, i.e. twisting a
towel, squeezing a pillow, lying down, doing push-ups, relaxing in
his room, reading, playing a board game, in replacement of
aggressive behaviour 15 times/day and frequency of aggression
will decrease to 15-24 times/day.
Hypothesized Function of Aggression: Access to Tangible
Reinforcement
Vollmer, T, & Athens, E. (2010). An Investigation of Differential Reinforcement of Alternative
Behavior Without Extinction. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 43, 569-589.
Vollmer, T, et al. (1999). Evaluating Treatment Challenges With Differential Reinforcement of
Alternative Behavior. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 32, 9-23.
Lloyd, J.W., et al. (1996). Group vs. Individual Reinforcement Contingencies Within the Context of
Group Study Conditions. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 29, 189-200.
Speltz, M.L., et al. (1982). Procedural Variations in Group Contingencies: Effects on Children’s
Academic and Social Behaviors. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 15, 533-544.
DRA and Group Contingency strategies can be utilized
concurrently to decrease aberrant behaviour and increase
desired, functional behaviour.
It is possible for one mediator to utilize two combined
programs to train more than one sibling simultaneously and be
successful in meeting goals.
DRA and Group Contingency Procedures can be used to
increase more than one desired behaviour across multiple
participants and reduce multiple aberrant behaviours with
different hypothesized functions.
Group contingencies can facilitate socially appropriate
behaviour (i.e. siblings prompting and reinforcing one another
to engage in desired behaviour).
DRA and Group Contingency Procedures can be used to
increase more than one desired behaviour across multiple
participants and reduce multiple aberrant behaviours with
different hypothesized functions.