So far, we have looked at some of the many reasons negative behaviors occur, as well as behavior management techniques helpful with individual with Prader-Willi syndrome. Positive Behavioral Supportis another essential tool for caregivers.
- Positive behavioral support can help decrease tantrums, reduce perseverative and OCD like behaviors, and increase cooperation and effective transitions through activities.
- Positive behavioral support can be used at a young age even before adverse behaviors begin.
- Positive behavioral support can be used to teach, reinforce, and strengthen desired behavior. As desired behaviors are strengthened undesirable behavior fades due to a lack of reinforcement.
- Positive behavioral support uses an individual’s strengths and interests as motivation to complete non-preferred tasks, meet goals, and learn new coping skills. Because individuals with PWS typically have low internal motivation, the use of external motivators is a must. External motivators include verbal praise, token rewards, sticker or other visual reward systems, or even special attention or one-on-one time.
- Always work with your loved one to determine what their individual motivators are understanding what may be motivating to one person might not be to another. It is important to work collaboratively with individuals with PWS to increase their investment in learning and growing.
Jennifer Bolander has been serving as a Special Education Specialist for PWSA (USA) since October of 2015. She is a graduate of John Carroll University and lives in Ohio with her husband Brad and daughters Kate (17), and Sophia (13) who was born with PWS.
Perry A. Zirkel has written more than 1,500 publications on various aspects of school law, with an emphasis on legal issues in special education. He writes a regular column for NAESP’s Principal magazine and NASP’s Communiqué newsletter, and he did so previously for Phi Delta Kappan and Teaching Exceptional Children.
Evan has worked with the Prader-Willi Syndrome Association (USA) since 2007 primarily as a Crisis Intervention and Family Support Counselor. Evans works with parents and schools to foster strong collaborative relationships and appropriate educational environments for students with PWS.
Dr. Amy McTighe is the PWS Program Manager and Inpatient Teacher at the Center for Prader-Willi Syndrome at the Children’s Institute of Pittsburgh. She graduated from Duquesne University receiving her Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Education with a focus on elementary education, special education, and language arts.
Staci Zimmerman works for Prader-Willi Syndrome Association of Colorado as an Individualized Education Program (IEP) consultant. Staci collaborates with the PWS multi-disciplinary clinic at the Children’s Hospital in Denver supporting families and school districts around the United States with their child’s Individual Educational Plan.
Founded in 2001, SDLC is a non-profit legal services organization dedicated to protecting and advancing the legal rights of people with disabilities throughout the South. It partners with the Southern Poverty Law Center, Protection and Advocacy (P&A) programs, Legal Services Corporations (LSC) and disability organizations on major, systemic disability rights issues involving the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and the federal Medicaid Act. Recently in November 2014, Jim retired.