School Behavior Intervention

What types of school behavior intervention are available?

Behavior Intervention Programs (BIPs) are a standard part of the treatment plan for a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A BIP is just a plan of predetermined actions and techniques to be performed to help a child with ASD work toward increasing desirable behaviors and decreasing harmful or undesirable behaviors. The BIP provides an outline of steps that anyone involved in the care of a child with ASD can refer to when the child engages in specific behaviors, but they can be especially helpful for teachers and other school officials.

Intercare Therapy creates school-based programs that give your child the behavioral and therapeutic support they need to succeed at school. The services they frequently provide include functional behavior assessments, development of behavioral intervention plans, and applied behavior analysis (ABA).

Is school behavior intervention required?

Any child with special needs is required to have an Individual Education Plan (IEP)—a legally-mandated document that outlines the student’s individual educational goals and the accommodations required for their special needs. While a specific BIP is usually not explicitly required by law, it’s a great document to include as part of the IEP since it can offer specific guidance for how to support the student and minimize the impact of common behavioral issues.

When you work with the staff at your child’s school to create or update their IEP, you should include information about your BIP. And, if you want your child to receive ABA services at school, you must put it in the IEP.

If there’s a chance your child may have behavioral problems, or they already face this challenge, it’s essential for their IEP to have a positive behavioral intervention plan that details the steps the staff will take when problems arise. Having a planned intervention avoids emergency interventions that often escalate the problem.

When might my child need school behavior intervention?

You may need to request school behavior intervention when:

Providing ABA at school is medically necessary

When your child is engaged in an intensive ABA program, they need consistent and frequent sessions across multiple settings to ensure their treatment goals are met and they can generalize the skills they learn. That often means it’s essential to provide ABA during school hours. In order to ensure that your child’s treatment and care is consistent, you must take steps to advocate for their interests at school or any other environment in which they regularly spend time, especially without you there. The Intercare Team can help you craft a school behavior intervention plan tailored to your child’s needs.

Behavior challenges occur at school

Even children with ASD who aren’t actively engaged in an ABA therapy program may need behavior intervention at school. If your child unexpectedly develops behavioral problems at school that fail to improve when the school responds in its standard way, it may be necessary to request a behavioral intervention to define the problem and find the best solution.

How do I request school behavior intervention?

The Intercare Therapy team has longstanding and positive relationships with their local school systems. They frequently design school-based programs that support children’s ability to achieve the goals defined in their IEPs. This can be complicated since initiating a school intervention must follow a process that’s defined by special education laws and guidelines.

The first step in requesting a school behavior intervention is to talk with the school staff and learn the steps you must follow in your area. Many school systems have their own psychologists who perform behavioral assessments and interventions. If that’s the case, you’ll need to negotiate to use your therapist for a functional assessment or get permission for them to work with your child in the school.

Requesting school behavior intervention is well worth the effort, however. A review of studies into the effectiveness of school behavior intervention for children with ASD suggests that they “effectively decreased or eliminated various challenging behaviours across different age groups.”

When you need help with your child’s behavior intervention at school, call Intercare Therapy or fill out the contact form online.